Opong victims in Masbate thank PBBM for visit, food, cash aid

By Connie Calipay

LEGAZPI CITY --- Residents of Masbate province affected by Severe Tropical Storm (STS) Opong last week thanked President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for visiting and providing them food, non-food, and financial assistance during his visit on Wednesday.

President Marcos, together with several Cabinet secretaries, personally talked with Masbate Governor Richard Kho and Masbate City Mayor Ara Kho to assure continuous government assistance to the province after it was hit hard by “Opong” (international name Bualoi).

In an interview, Estella Abilong, 28, of Barangay Bolo, Masbate City, thanked the President for the assistance provided by the government.

“Thank you very much, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., for your offer of help to us. This is a great help to us,” he said.

Abilong, whose house was damaged by Opong, said she is determined to get back on her feet.

“I hope there will be more help because there was a lot of damage, schools, even infrastructure, especially from the Department of Education (DepEd) to help the schools. With what is happening now, I’m so thankful and blessed,” she said.

Alibong added that they felt the care and concern of the President as he visited and provided aid to them.

Emelia Rojero Galban, 62, turned emotional as she narrated her experience at the height of the STS.

She said Opong severely damaged her house, leaving her family in dire need of support to recover.

“I just want to get back our livelihood, our house, I have here the photos of my house damaged by Opong. I asked Mr. President to help us,” she said in the local dialect.

Galban appreciated the presence of President Marcos, which, she said, gave them hope.

Francisco Sancio Jr., 36, from Barangay Batuhan, also in Masbate City, said he would use the government cash aid to buy materials for the repair of his house.

Sancio is one of the initial beneficiaries of financial aid from the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Bicol (DSWD-5).

“I hope Mr. President, your help will continue. There is a lot of damage and a lot more that needs to be fixed,” he said.

Dolores Gomez, 71 of Barangay Malubi, Masbate City, also thanked the President, saying she would use the government assistance to rebuild his livelihood that was destroyed by Opong.

“Thank you so much, Mr. President. I will buy chicken and piglets to start again. We are thankful that we are alive,” she said.

Masbate province is now under a state of calamity after being battered by the severe tropical storm last Sept. 25. (PNA)

HELP FROM THE GOVERNMENT. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. greets Masbate residents at the Nursery Elementary School in Masbate City on Wednesday (Oct. 1, 2025). The President, together with some Cabinet secretaries, visited the province and provided food, non-food, and cash assistance to the families affected by Severe Tropical Storm Opong on Sept. 25. (PNA photo by Connie Calipay)