The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Wednesday, Dec. 29, denied allegations that vote-rich areas are being prioritized by the government in the conduct of relief operations related to typhoon “Odette.”

“Hindi po part ng considerations sa relief effort kung voter rich po ang area or not (Whether an area is voter rich or not is not part of the considerations in the relief effort),” NDRRMC spokesperson Mark Timbal told reporters.

He was reacting to claims on social media that NDRRMC was supposedly being selective in the areas that were aided by the government.

“Is it just me who noticed in the news that relief were mainly focused in Cebu, Bohol, Surigao, Leyte, etc.? How about Southern Leyte? Did you know that the typhoon made landfall over two cities in Southern Leyte? It is very unfair that they only focus on vote-rich provinces,” one Facebook user said.

Odette made landfall nine times when it hit the country on December 16, including in Liloan and Padre Burgos towns in Southern Leyte.

“We are all humans here in Southern Leyte. We are part of the Philippines. We are victims also of typhoon Odette and we are crying for help as of this moment,” the user added.

But Timbal assured that the NDRRMC has been doing extra work to transport food, water, and other relief items to the most affected areas, including Southern Leyte.

“Our relief efforts are organized by the NDRRMC in close coordination with disaster councils at all levels. These are directed to all affected communities,” he said.

“The national government has utilized all available assets to ensure the continued delivery of relief support to all ,” he stated.

Odette has so far killed 397 people while 1,147 were injured and 83 were still missing.