Duterte set to visit storm-damaged areas in Visayas

President Rodrigo Duterte speaks at the 7th LGBT Year-end Gathering at The Tent in Azuela Cove Lanang, Davao City on Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017. (Photo from an RTVM video)

President Rodrigo Duterte will visit parts of the Visayas this week to aid the survivors and assess the damage of Tropical Storm “Urduja.”

The President made the announcement on Sunday before the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community at the 7th LGBT Davao Year-end Gathering, here on Sunday.

The President said he would visit the areas in the Visayas that were damaged by the typhoon so that he could find out how to improve government relief efforts.

“I have to fly to the places where the typhoon passed through. There’s so much destruction there.” Duterte said.

He said he had received reports of areas where bridges were destroyed due to rampaging floodwaters. 

“I would like to see for myself what government can do better than what these guys are doing now,” he said. 

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said Malacañang was continuing to closely monitor the situation. 

“What we really want to impress in the people is for them not to worry because government relief services are continuing,” he said.

Andanar said the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Coordinating Council was also monitoring the situation, especially since another potential storm might hit the Visayas during Christmas.

“This is very unfortunate, but don’t worry because the government is on top of the situation,” he said. 

Duterte said he would fly to Manila on Sunday night and head to areas affected by Urduja to assess the damage wrought by the storm, particularly in Samar and Leyte provinces.

“We will see to it what the government can do for the affected areas,” Duterte said.

After the LGB gathering, he flew to General Santos City to attend the birthday party of Sen. Manny Pacquiao.

Typhoon Urduja struck Eastern Visayas over the weekend, leaving three dead and six persons missing. Tacloban and Ormoc cities were also put under a state of calamity due to flooding. /atm