MANILA, (PNA) — President Benigno S. Aquino III rallied the support of all sectors in Bohol assuring them that the government has the resources to rebuild damaged communities there.
“Huwag kayong mag-alala, may kakayahan ang gobyerno ninyong tugunan ang pangagailangan ninyo, at yun ang pakay ng gobyerno talaga, ang asikasuhin kayo. So magtulungan tayo dito, malalaktawan natin itong pagsubok na ito at kakayanin natin ito,” the President said in an interview in Sagbayan, Bohol.
The government is prepared to do everything to rehabilitate Bohol and bring back to normal the lives of Boholanos, he said.
“Yung lahat ng nagsasabing wala nang pondo, etc, nagkakamali sila. Syempre, bago natin maitayo ito hindi naman ura-urada. Katulad doon sa port ng Tubigon, pinapaaral ko ‘yung design na ginawa ng port mismo, dahil kung ibabalik natin, sana hindi lang katulad ‘nung dati, baka mas maganda pa kaysa sa dati,” the President said.
The government will also help rebuild historical landmarks like churches in Bohol damaged by the October 15 quake, he said.
Government agencies are finalizing the data to identify areas to be rebuilt and to know the structures that have to be prioritized, the President noted.
The President also underscored the need of the people to go back home once an assessment of their houses is made so their lives could return to normal.
He said there’s no strong quake happening again because experts made an assurance that the energy of the fault that slipped has been released. Experts said there will be continuing aftershocks in two to three weeks.
The President arrived in Bohol Wednesday afternoon to oversee the ongoing relief efforts, assess affected infrastructures and assure the people about safety of going home.
President Aquino spent the night in Loon, Bohol in a military tent.