MARCOS PROVIDES AID TO DISPLACED FAMILIES IN SAN MATEO, RIZAL

HOURS after arriving from the United States, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday visited the Maly Elementary School in San Mateo, Rizal, to personally deliver assistance to families displaced by floods who are now taking shelter at the school.

Upon his arrival at the Maly Elementary School, the President was warmly welcomed by evacuees and residents, showing appreciation for his visit.

The school echoed with loud cheers of “BBM! BBM! BBM!” as evacuees warmly welcomed the President, who walked through the area and personally interacted with those affected.

President Marcos returned to Manila shortly after 10 p.m. Wednesday, following a three-day official visit to the United States, for bilateral meetings with U.S. President Donald Trump and other high-ranking U.S. officials. The President held separate meetings with U.S. business leaders who expressed interest in investing in the Philippines.

At around 9 a.m. on Thursday, President Marcos supervised the distribution of relief assistance by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Family food packs, hygiene kits, sleeping kits, family water filtration kits, and ready-to-eat meals were distributed.

The President was accompanied by DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan.

The government provided child-friendly and women-friendly spaces inside the Maly Elementary School evacuation center to ensure the safety and well-being of these vulnerable groups.

According to reports from the DSWD as of 4:00 a.m., a total of 546 families, or 2,102 individuals, are currently sheltered at Malay Elementary School.

Aside from Maly, other evacuation sites include Santa Ana Covered Court, which shelters around 497 families or 1,635 persons, and San Mateo Elementary School, which is hosting 744 families or 2,646 individuals.

Some families from the municipalities of Cainta and Taytay, Rizal, were also displaced due to heavy flooding.

All evacuation centers remain under close monitoring and are assisted by Local Government Units (LGUs), DSWD Field Office IV-A Quick Response Teams, and partner agencies.

MEDICAL TEAMS ORDERED DISPATCHED TO EVACUATION CENTERS

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday ordered concerned agencies to send medical teams and health professionals to various evacuation centers to prevent the possible outbreak of diseases among people taking shelter.

President Marcos expressed concern about congestion in evacuation centers, citing his firsthand observation during a visit to an evacuation center in Rizal province.

“I was concerned about noong nakita ko sa evacuation center, napaka-congested, ‘yung sakit. Pagka isa lang diyan ay nagkasakit, kakalat nang napakabilis niyan. And so, we are making sure every evacuation center has a medical team,” President Marcos said in a statement to the media in Camp Aguinaldo.

Medical teams should consist of doctors and nurses from both the national government and local government units, the Chief Executive said.

At the national level, concerned agencies should ensure that deployed medical teams have enough supplies, the President said.

“Ang trabaho lang talaga sa national ay tiyakin na mayroon silang sapat na supply ng mga gamit at saka ng gamot, and that’s what we’re doing now. So far that’s what we have to attend to,” President Marcos said.

The President was at Camp Aguinaldo to oversee the government’s response to the effects of the southwest monsoon, which were enhanced by Tropical Storm “Dante” and Typhoon “Emong.”

The President also attended the situation briefing at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council’s operations center.