Duterte set to visit Biliran, other areas devastated by ‘Urduja’

President Rodrigo Duterte is scheduled to visit the typhoon-ravaged island province of Biliran as well as other areas hit by “Urduja” on Monday.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte would arrive in Biliran by 12 noon, and also expected to visit Tacloban City after.

“Well, titingnan po ni Pangulo kung ano talaga ang pinakamatinding pangangailangan ng Biliran at para iparating na ang gobyerno ay karamay nila sa kanilang karanasan ngayon,” he said in an interview over dzRH on Monday morning.

On Sunday, Duterte said he wanted to personally see the situation in the typhoon-hit areas and assess what the government could do to assist.

“I have to fly to the places where dumaan ‘yung typhoon. There’s so much destruction there,” he said.

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

Mr. Duterte would be accompanied by Roque, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, Health Secretary Francisco Duque, Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar, and Social Welfare and Development Officer-in-Charge Emmanuel Leyco.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said at least 32 people were killed after flashfloods and landslides struck Biliran due to rains brought by Urduja.                      /kga