Six provincial governors issued a joint statement Tuesday expressing gratitude to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for multimillion-peso financial grants to assist thousands of residents displaced by tropical storm “Basyang.”
The governors of Cebu, Iloilo, Eastern Samar, Surigao del Sur, Aklan and Bohol described the assistance as timely help that would ease the suffering caused by the storm.
Marcos ordered the release of P321 million to 34 provinces and eight cities affected by the storm and the accompanying shear line. The directive was issued to Executive Secretary Ralph Recto following a meeting with provincial leaders last week, and Recto confirmed the funds are currently being distributed.
The provincial leaders said the provinces will use the funds to assist those whose homes and lives were impacted, provide relief goods, and undertake repairs on damaged roads, bridges, and other infrastructure.
They also promised to augment the national grants with local resources, stating that helping the public is a shared responsibility of the national and local government units.
Beyond disaster relief, the group thanked the administration for increasing the engagement of local government units in national programs. They specifically noted a recent agreement between the Department of Education and the Department of the Interior and Local Government to involve local units in building classrooms.
The governors said they have the engineering personnel, equipment, and manpower to help address the classroom shortage and provide an environment conducive to learning in public schools.
The joint statement was issued by Governors Pamela Baricuatro of Cebu, Arthur Defensor Jr. of Iloilo, Ralph Vincent Evardone of Eastern Samar, Johnny Pimentel of Surigao del Sur, Erico Aristotle Aumentado of Bohol, and Jose Enrique Miraflores of Aklan.