Courtesy: Office of the Speaker
HOUSE Speaker Faustino “Bojie” G. Dy III on Thursday led a House of Representatives delegation to General Santos City and Sarangani Province to assess the impact of the recent earthquake, meet with local officials and regional agency heads, and identify immediate and long-term measures to assist affected communities.
During the visit, Dy announced that the House would shoulder the medical expenses of all individuals injured as a result of the earthquake, whether they are receiving treatment in government or private hospitals. The Speaker also assured affected families that additional assistance would be mobilized to help communities recover from the disaster.
“Sa ngalan po ng House of Representatives, amin pong taos-pusong ipinaaabot ang amin pong pakikiramay. Nandito kami para matiyak na katulad ng sabi po namin, sa lahat ng ospital na kakailanganin na related po sa earthquake ay titiyakin natin na zero balance yung ating mga kababayan na nasa loob ng mga ospital,” said the Speaker.
“At dapat madagdagan pa ng mga pondo para meron tayong kasiguraduhan at matiyak na malalampasan natin itong paghamon na tumama dito po satin, sa mga kababayan natin dito sa rehiyon na ‘to..“
Dy likewise emphasized that members of the House delegation were conducting an on-site assessment of damaged infrastructure and public facilities to determine reconstruction requirements and ensure that funding needs would be reflected in the proposed 2027 national budget.
“Importante rin ma-assess mabuti yung mga building katulad ng ating mga airport na nakita kanina at para sa gayon matiyak natin na wala tayong magiging problema,” said Dy.
“Kaya ganoon din ang ating support, pagtutulungan namin para sa gayon ma-rehab natin nang mabilis na panahon itong mga ospital, sapagkat ito yung unang-unang mga pangaingailangan natin dito sa inyong lugar,” he added.
“May mga reports na dumating sa mga damages sa inyo pong area. At siyempre tamang-tama po yan, ang ating mga kinatawan ng inyong rehiyon ay pagtutulungan namin para matiyak na nandun siya sa loob ng ating proposed budget for next year para masiguro natin magawa yung mga dapat na magawa na mga kalsada, tulay, at ano pang mga facilities para pakinabangan ang ating mga kababayan.”
Dy said the findings from the inspection would help Congress identify priority funding requirements for reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts across affected communities.
