President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Tuesday gave local government officials the green light to exhaust all available funds to provide help for victims of severe tropical storm "Paeng".

"The government has money. Use the funds. What the government has, we exhaust it so we can provide help immediately," Marcos said in the vernacular during a situation briefing in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte.

Marcos personally visited the hard-hit province to check the situation of individuals dwelling in the evacuation centers, provide them assistance, and assess the extent of the damage caused by "Paeng."

As a short-term solution to the serious devastation brought by Paeng, Marcos called on local executives to be "as efficient as possible" in supplying relief goods to areas pounded by the typhoon.

"It's not important who gives it, at least to me, as long as relief goods will end up to those in need. We have to always keep remembering that. That is the main point," he said.

Marcos frowns on existing SOP

Marcos expressed disapproval of the existing standard operating procedure for the distribution of assistance in some localities, where typhoon victims must secure a ticket first before they can get a relief pack.

He said the SOP must be "more efficient" to ensure the immediate release of aid to displaced individuals.

"We will have to improve the SOP," he said. "Ano kung mag-doble? Bigay niyo na lahat. Just give everything. Yayaman ba ang tao na merong naka-doble siya ng food pack? Hindi yayaman," he said.

"There is no such thing as sobra na relief goods. No such thing. Kung ano ang meron tayo, ibigay natin kaagad. It doesn't matter kung may papel, huwag niyo nang papirmahan. Basta bigay na.Walang kakainini yang mga iyan. That is something that we can improve on," he added.

The President advised the Bangsamoro government to adopt the "standard package" being distributed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development to the typhoon victims.

"If you're going to make your own packs, let's have it similar to the ones being distributed by the DSWD because that comes from a long experience…what are the needs of the victims of a calamity like this," he said.

Marcos also emphasized the need to distribute emergency supplies of medicines to residents affected by the typhoon, at least medicines to cure common illnesses.

"We will have to supply kasi naghahanap din ang tao ng gamot. That's one aspect na hindi natin masyadong napagtuunan — paano tayo magbibigay ng gamot," Marcos said.

"Siguro pwede natin unahan. Huwag na natin hintayin 'yung mga prescribed medicine. Magdala na tayo ng mga 'yung simple lang, 'yung mga para sa sipon, 'yung para sa ubo, para sa sirang tiyan para you know, all the common ailments can be cured by non-prescription medicines," he added.

He particularly asked military doctors and medical workers to lead the immediate distribution of medical supplies.

After the briefing, the President led the distribution of food packs and assistance to the victims who are currently taking temporary shelter in one of the evacuation centers in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte.

Addressing typhoon victims, Marcos said the government would grant cash aid amounting to at least P5,000, which they can use to rebuild their homes.

"We will continue to support. We will continue to provide. We are here to make sure that the cyclone victims who need help immediately get assistance from the national government," he said.

Public works' district office

The President wants the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to establish its own public works and highways district office to quickly repair damaged infrastructure, especially following natural disasters.

He instructed Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan to establish a DPWH district office that will only cater to BARMM's needs.

In his report during the briefing, BARMM Interior Minister Naguib Sinarimbo enumerated the region's most affected road network which, he said, is a critical lifeline to the ongoing relief operations.
Two critical bridges have been damaged: the Nituan Bridge in Parang, and the Sarakan Bridge in Matanog, according to Minister Sinarimbo.

Aerial inspection

Following his aerial inspection of areas in Maguindanao province that remain submerged in flood water, Marcos recommended including tree planting in the government's flood control measures.

"I noticed that lahat ng gumuhong bundok ay kalbo. That's the problem…yung may kahoy hindi gumalaw 'yung lupa. Lahat nung sugat na makita mo sa bundok dahil kalbo," Marcos recalled.

"We have to include tree planting in our flood control," he said. "Let's consider tree planting. That's not a small thing. I know people think that it is just to save the environment. No, it is to save lives. It will really save lives."

The typhoon's wrath prompted the Bangsamoro government to place the region under a state of calamity.

Extent of damage

The death toll from the onslaught of Paeng climbed to 110, according to the situation report released by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council on Tuesday morning.

Around 79 of the 98 reported deaths have been validated, while 31 are still for validation.

At least 59 of the validated deaths were BARMM residents, while around 101 individuals were injured and 33 remain missing.

According to the NDRRMC report, at least 741,777 families or 2,418,249 individuals have so far been affected by Paeng.

The same report stated that around 329,299 families or 859,981 individuals are currently taking temporary shelter inside and outside evacuation centers.

Marcos called on BARMM officials and other government agencies to step up search and rescue operations in the province as he lamented the increasing number of casualties in the region, most of which died due to flooding.

Areas affected by landslides include Barangay Kusiong in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Barangays Maagabo Bayanga Sur, Bayanga Norte and KabugawSapad in Matanog, and Barangays Romonggaob and Looy in South Upi.