Aquino visits Marikina

President Benigno S. Aquino III leading the distribution of packed foods in Tunasan, Muntinlupa City on Wednesday, August 8, 2012. MARCELINO PASCUA/Malacañang Photo Bureau

MANILA, Philippines — President Benigno Aquino III continued his visits to flood-hit areas in Metro Manila, starting Thursday with a trip to Marikina City.

In a televised coverage, Aquino, with his officials, is in Nangka, assuring officials and residents that the government is doing everything it can to provide for their needs.

Marikina has been flooded since Monday when the city’s river started to rise due to heavy rains spawned by the southwest monsoon.

Thousands of residents have since been evacuated and thousands more are being rescued from their flooded homes as of posting time.

Aquino visited Muntinlupa Wednesday and met with the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) and disaster agencies twice over the week to ensure that rescue and relief operations are being carried out to the affected areas.

Nineteen have died and close to two million people have been affected by the floods, the NDRRMC said.