• RICHARD T. CABALLERO JR.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr is set to visit two localities in Negros Occidental today, November 15, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian revealed yesterday.
According to Gatchalian, the President’s visit aims to boost national support and accelerate rehabilitation planning for worst-hit areas such as La Castellana, Bago City, Moises Padilla, and Hinigaran.
In confirmation, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said that President Marcos is expected to arrive in the province today, depending on weather conditions.
Lacson further said that PBBM plans to visit the towns of Moises Padilla and La Castellana, localities which suffered significant casualties from Typhoon Tino.
Gatchalian, on the other hand, met with local officials and the governor to address each inquiry and to provide fast-track recovery efforts. In a media interview, Gatchalian said President Marcos instructed him to personally oversee typhoon-hit regions.
“This whole week I have been going around with the President. I was just tasked to come here first to have a meeting with the local chief executives to see what else we can do,” Gatchalian said, confirming the arrival of PBBM today, if weather permits.
He explained that visiting LGUs in person allows him to understand the “peculiarities” of each community’s damage, noting that impacts differed significantly between Southern Leyte, La Castellana, and other affected areas.
Present during the briefing were with Negros Occidental mayors, Canlaon City Mayor Jose Chubasco Cardenas, and district representatives Dino Yulo (5th District, NegOcc), Jeffrey Ferrer (4th District, NegOcc), and Emmanuel Iway (1st District, NegOr).*
