ILIGAN CITY, Mindanao — Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian personally visited the Tubod Bridge in Barangay Tubod, Iligan City, on February 7, following the severe impact of Typhoon BasyangPH a day earlier. Accompanied by Mayor Frederick Siao, Gatchalian assessed the damage firsthand and coordinated immediate relief efforts for affected residents.

The visit included inspections of two evacuation centers, Miguel Obach Memorial School in Barangay Ubaldo Laya and South 1A Central School in Barangay Tubod, where displaced families were temporarily sheltered. Secretary Gatchalian emphasized that the mission was carried out under the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to provide prompt assistance to one of the hardest-hit cities.

Immediate relief efforts include distribution of emergency aid, cash-for-work programs, and financial support for damaged homes and livelihoods. Gatchalian also highlighted the coordinated efforts of various government agencies, from the Department of Public Works and Highways clearing debris to DSWD overseeing aid delivery and rehabilitation programs.

While the swift deployment of aid demonstrates the government’s responsiveness, it also raises questions about disaster preparedness and long-term resilience. Iligan, like many other areas in the Philippines, is increasingly vulnerable to typhoons and extreme weather events. Without sustainable infrastructure and proactive disaster planning, communities face repeated risks despite immediate relief.

As the city begins recovery, the pressing question remains: can the government ensure that emergency aid is both immediate and sustainable to protect communities from recurring disasters? (Larawan mula sa: Radyo Pilipinas Iligan / Facebook)