MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assured the public that the government would continue prioritizing the safety and welfare of communities affected by the enhanced southwest monsoon and back-to-back storms.
In his arrival statement following his three-day official visit to the United States, Marcos said that various government agencies, in cooperation with local government units, continued to conduct rescue and relief operations to ensure that families seeking help get the support they need.
“In times of disaster, your government puts first the safety, health, and welfare of every Filipino,” the President said.
“Our response to the heavy rains and flooding caused by the habagat across different parts of the country continues,” he added.
Marcos then urged the public to cooperate with authorities and follow weather advisories, including evacuation orders, if necessary.
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Meanwhile, the President said the Philippine government requested assistance from the US Indo-Pacific Command to support the ongoing relief operations in areas hit by severe tropical storm “Crising.”
He also thanked the US government not just for its hospitality during his official visit, but also for pledging to help communities affected by the southwest monsoon.
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Speaking to reporters shortly after meeting US President Donald Trump at the White House, Marcos confirmed that Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites were being used to accelerate aid distribution to flood-hit areas.
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., who accompanied Marcos on the trip, said relief goods were already prepositioned in EDCA locations, including Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija.
“The EDCA sites that are up and running, maybe Fort Magsaysay, do contain relief goods already prepositioned,” he said.
