President Rodrigo Duterte visited Leyte on Good Friday, following the devastation caused by Typhoon Agaton (international name: Megi) earlier this week.
PTV-4 and Radio and Television Malacañang aired clips from the President’s visit, including his aerial inspection over Baybay City in Leyte province.
As seen in the videos, Duterte arrived at the Ormoc City airport and was greeted by Leyte 4th District Representative Lucy Torres-Gomez and her husband, Mayor Richard Gomez.
Later, he presided over a briefing with officials from various state agencies and local government units to assess the impact of “Agaton.”
The Chief Executive also paid a visit to the Malasakit Center in the Western Leyte Provincial Hospital in Baybay City, before meeting with displaced residents.
During his visit, he was accompanied by Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, his former top aide and trusted confidante.
At the time of publication, the Palace had yet to issue Duterte’s orders to concerned government agencies for relief and rehabilitation efforts in typhoon-ravaged areas.
According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, heavy rains, strong winds, and several landslides caused by “Agaton” killed 137 people, left 28 missing, and injured eight others (NDRRMC).
Over 323,000 people were also displaced by the typhoon, who sought refuge in 1,033 evacuation centers in the Visayas and Mindanao.
According to NDRRMC reports, it also damaged agricultural products worth P186.63 million, as well as 9,600 houses and 43 infrastructure.
“Agaton,” the first storm to hit the country this year, weakened into a low-pressure area on Holy Tuesday before dissipating completely on Holy Wednesday.
In a 14 April telegram signed by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and addressed to Archbishop Charles Brown, Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, Pope Francis offered prayers for Filipinos affected by “Agaton.” ###
