Duterte to visit ‘Usman’-hit areas Friday

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte will visit on Friday the areas in Camarines Sur hit by Tropical Depression “Usman,” which ripped through Bicol and Eastern Visayas shortly after Christmas.

“We’re scheduled to visit tomorrow, sa Bicol area, Camarines Sur,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a Palace briefing on Thursday.

“We will check on the stricken areas para malaman natin kung ano pang kailangan nating gawin,” he added.

Bicol region was the hardest hit with 105 killed due to intense rains and landslides. Damage to agriculture in in the region, which produces rice and corn, was estimated at P342 million.

READ: Bicol ‘Usman’ death toll hits 105; 20 still missing

Despite the death toll, Panelo said there seems to be no shortcoming on the part of the government in preparing for Usman.

However, he noted that the power outage in some areas in Camarines Sur, particularly in Sagñay, disrupted proper dissemination of information to the residents.

“Mukha namang wala naman (pagkukulang) sapagkat gaya ng sinabi natin noon pa handa tayo,” he said.

“But there are (areas)… na biglang nawalan ng kuryente kaya ‘yung mensahe hindi nakarating sa kinauukulan kaugnay sa paghahanda para sa storm Usman. Merong mga ganun like in Sa Sagñay, sabi ng mga tao doon day before pa wala na silang kuryente,” Panelo said.

Because of this, the Palace official said local government units should impose better emergency contingency plans, particularly in avoiding power interruptions, in time of calamities. /je