Aquino to visit typhoon-hit Mindanao cities soon – Palace

President Benigno Aquino III

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang has announced that President Aquino will visit typhoon-devastated Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities but has not said when his visit will be.

Deputy spokesperson Abigail Valte said on Sunday that the Palace was withholding the schedule of the “forthcoming” presidential trip to cities affected by mammoth floods spawned by typhoon Sendong to ensure that affected local government units could fix their concerted plans on providing aid to typhoon victims.

Valte said the devastated areas have been in dire need of water and that government agencies have been bringing in water tankers and canisters. The government would also have to fly in portalets for use in evacuation centers, she said.

“We welcome any and all donations from the public and private sectors,” Valte also said in an interview over government radio dzRB.

On reports that US State Secretary Hilary Clinton has offered US assistance to the devastated provinces, Valte said the Palace would defer to the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Center to make that determination.

Valte said the Palace has been focused now on providing help and relief to typhoon victims than pinpointing at this time who should be held accountable for the loss of many lives.

But she noted that as early as Dec. 14, the state weather bureai, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), had already started to warn local government units of Sendong’s might.

Close to 500 persons were killed in floods brought by Sendong in Visayas and Mindanao.

Originally posted at 01:50 pm | Sunday, December 18, 2011