Two municipal mayors of Sarangani province have lauded the “very swift” disaster response of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Regional Office 12 during the November 17 earthquake that hit several areas in the region of SOCCSKSARGEN (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultah Kudarat, Sarangani, General Santos).

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., who was joined by Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian and a number of Cabinet members, visited General Santos City on Thursday (November 23) to check on the condition of the local government units (LGUs) which were severely affected by the magnitude 6.8 earthquake.

During the situation briefing presided by President Marcos, the mayors of Glan and Malapatan in Sarangani province commended the DSWD SOCCSKSARGEN Regional Director Loreto Cabaya Jr. for the “very swift” response to the local government units’ (LGUs) immediate needs after the magnitude 6.8 earthquake.

“For everybody’s appreciation the mayors of Glan and Malapatan in front of the President said ‘Si RD Loreto Cabaya sobrang bilis.’Hindi lang mabilis, ‘sobrang’ bilis. That’s how it should be done. Sobrang bilis,” Secretary Gatchalian later told other DSWD regional directors in a chat group.

After the briefing, President Marcos and Secretary Gatchalian proceeded to the Oval Plaza Gym where they led the distribution of various government assistance to families and individuals affected by the earthquake that hit several parts of Mindanao.

Among the recipients of the government assistance were 2,000 tricycle drivers from General Santos City who each received a Php2,000 cash aid.

Meanwhile, 206 families from the municipalities of Malapatan and Glan (in Sarangani) and General Santos City received Php10,000 each for those whose houses were totally damaged and Php5,000 each for those with partially damaged houses.

The beneficiaries also received family food packs (FFPs) and family kitchen kits on top of the cash aid.

Joining President Marcos and Secretary Gatchalian during the aid distribution were Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan, Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos, Jr., former Senator Manny Pacquiao, Sarangani Governor Ruel Pacquiao, General Santos City Mayor Lorelei Pacquiao, and DSWD Field Office 12 (SOCCSKSARGEN) Director Loreto Cabaya, Jr.#