By Genalyn Kabiling
President Duterte has ordered concerned agencies to step up the relief assistance to families displaced by the severe flooding in Metro Manila and other provinces.
The President issued the directive to authorities as he kept close tabs on the latest disaster situation affecting some parts of the country.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte
(SIMEON CELI JR./PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
"You have to give us some allowances for our delay and you know I have been monitoring the situation since the other night medyo kulang kami ng tulog but I think everything is all right,” Duterte said at the start of the oath-taking of new officials in Malacañang.
It was the President's first public appearance at the Palace since the heavy rains and floods hit Metro Manila and surrounding provinces last weekend.
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque earlier said the President was supposed to conduct an aerial inspection of the flooded areas in Metro Manila and Rizal Monday afternoon. But the President's inspection was later cancelled due to bad weather.
"Kanyang ipinag-utos sa mga ahensiya ng gobyermo na paigtingin ang mga serbisyo sa mga naapektuhan at siguraduhin ang kaligtasan ng lahat ," Roque said.
Based on the latest update from National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), Roque said flooding was reported in 978 areas in Regions I, III, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, VI, X, CAR, and NCR. Of which, floodwaters in 778 areas have already subsided.
Roque said a total of ₱133,812,308 worth of assistance has been provided by the government and the private sector to the families affected by the rains and floods.
"Ito ang panahon ng pagkakaisa at bayanihan. Lubos kaming nagpapasalamat sa lahat sa patuloy na pagpapaabot ng tulong sa ating mga kababayan," he said.