Duterte inspects typhoon-hit southern Negros, delivers aid

BACOLOD CITY—President Rodrigo Duterte inspected typhoon-hit southern Negros on Monday, December 20, and pledged to provide P2 billion to each of the “Odette” ravaged provinces.

Mr. Duterte also led the ceremonial distribution of family food packs, repair kits, and hygiene kits, among others, after a briefing on the post-typhoon impact in southern Negros at the Kabankalan City Hall.

Southern Negros Occidental, especially Kabankalan City and Sipalay City, were the worst hit by the typhoon in the province.

President Duterte also conducted an aerial inspection of typhoon-hit areas in southern Negros Occidental, many of which were submerged Thursday and Friday, December 16 and 17.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque said they were in southern Negros Occidental to assess the damage and look into the delivery of assistance, including health related supplies, for the immediate rehabilitation of the severely affected areas.

“We will check on the water, electricity, fuel and other important supplies,” Duque also said.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development has already extended 10,300 family food packs to Negros Occidental worth P5.7-million as of December 20, Secretary Rolando Bautista said.

One of the beneficiaries who received a family food pack from the President was Ma. Ramona Desusa, 44, a mother of five children who shared her harrowing experience on the evening of December 16 at the height of typhoon Odette.

Desusa, a resident of Barangay Talubangi in Kabankalan, said the muddy flood water rose so quickly and next thing they knew it was already beyond an average person’s height.

“Good thing that my children evacuated earlier. But I will never forget this,” said Desusa, whose house was destroyed by two trees that fell on it.

“All my life, this is the first time that I experienced this kind of typhoon but, this is also the first time that I experienced receiving help from the President himself,” Desusa said.