By: April Therese Tan
Upon arrival at the Mactan Airbase, Duterte had a meeting with some Cebu officials wherein he stated that the main purpose of his visit is to inform the public that the government will use all its available assets to address the devastation brought about by Typhoon Odette.
The President’s visit is his second this week after Typhoon Odette left massive devastation in Cebu. He was in Argao town earlier.
In Cebu City, Duterte led the distribution of food packs and the ceremonial turnover of financial assistance to typhoon victims at the Labangon Elementary School gymnasium.
“Para siguraduhin ang maayos na koordinasyon ng relief at rebuilding efforts, personal po nating tinututukan nitong mga nakaraang araw ang mga pinsalang naidulot ng Bagyong Odette. Sa mga pagbisitang ito, nakipagpulong din si Pangulong Duterte sa mga lokal na opisyal upang direktang marinig mula sa kanila ang kanilang mga pangangailangan at agarang matugunan ang mga ito,” Go said in a Facebook post of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas.
Duterte and Go assured the local communities that the whole government is mobilizing all its assets to help them recover and build back better.
The President has also directed the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police, the Philippine Coast Guard and other concerned uniformed personnel and frontliners to provide needed support to the affected communities.
To fast track all rescue, recovery, relief and rehabilitation efforts, the President issued on Tuesday, December 21, Proclamation No. 1267 which placed MIMAROPA, Regions VI (Western Visayas), VII (Central Visayas), VIII (Eastern Visayas), X, (Northern Mindanao) and XIII (Caraga) under a state of calamity.
The declaration will remain in effect for a year until it is modified or rescinded.