Marcos ready to aid Cebu, ally or not – Palace

Malacañang Palace said on Wednesday that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is willing to extend assistance to those who need it, whether they are an ally or not.

This came after the province of Cebu was battered by Typhoon Tino, on top of the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that hit the province more than a month ago.

“Even if they are not allies of the President, no matter what color they are, the President is ready to help anyone as long as the government's help is needed, no matter where they are allies, the President will help,” Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said.

To recall, days before the midterm election, President Marcos went to Cebu to woo voters from Cebu and sought support from its influential governor Gwen Garcia.

The administration-backed Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas did not succeed in securing seats in the Senate and Garcia also was not elected for another term, electing Pam Baricuatro to the gubernatorial position.

Despite this,Baricuatro welcomed Marcos during his visit after the earthquake in October, which Castro emphasized.

“Just recently, it was also reported that the President went to Cebu, and he was welcomed by the governor, who even thanked him for the immediate assistance provided by the President to the said city,” she noted.

Probe ordered for Cebu flood control

As Tino left devastating effects in Cebu, flooding several parts of the province in which Baricuatro described as “flooded to the max”, Malacañang said Marcos had ordered a probe to the flood control projects in the area which was pegged at P26 billion.

“That's the reason why President Marcos Jr. is investigating [the flood control projects] because he saw the impact, there are budgets allocated for this but it doesn't seem to be working. So it's better if she is angry, that's what President Marcos Jr. feels too,” Castro said.

Castro also encouraged Baricuatro to share information, if she has any, regarding officials who may have benefitted in the alleged corruption in the flood control projects in her province.

“It's not just during the time of President Marcos Jr. that we should know about flood control projects because as it was revealed earlier, our initial data is that 343 flood control projects were completed since 2016 to 2022 in Cebu from the 1st District, 2nd District, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th to the city. So, this should also be seen because if there were 343 flood control projects even before then, they should have been working. So, let's work together to find those who should be held accountable for the anomalous flood control projects,” she said.

According to data shared by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), two projects out of 343 have been terminate. For the period between 2023 and 2025, 55 flood control projects out of 168 are still ongoing.

President Marcos is expected to visit the storm-hit province in the coming days to check on evacuees, including those who are still affected by the massive earthquake.