Duterte eyes another visit to Odette-affected areas

President Rodrigo Duterte intends to visit areas hit by Typhoon Odette last December.

During the pre-recorded Talk to the People aired on Tuesday, Duterte said he wants to see if the promises made by officials on the ground were fulfilled.

"Not all officers are working on their promise to do a certain act on a certain time, sabi lang oo nang oo pero hindi naman ginagawa [they say yes but they don't do anything]," he said.

"So I'd like to go there personally," Duterte said, adding he also like health workers in the affected areas to give COVID-19 vaccination to residents who have yet to be vaccinated.

He said the Philippine Coast Guard could use its fast crafts to deliver the vaccines to the affected areas.

Duterte, however, admitted that restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic are making it difficult for him to travel.

"I want to make the rounds again, ang problema lang nito may COVID," he said.

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), some 339,000 people remain in evacuation centers or are staying with relatives about a month after Odette hit.

The NDRRMC said Odette left 406 dead, 65 missing, and 1,265 injured.  —KBK, GMA News