Duterte visits Agaton-hit Capiz, assures aid to storm victims

President Rodrigo Duterte on Black Saturday continued his aerial inspection of areas affected by Tropical Depression Agaton.

In a video posted by the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) on Facebook, Duterte assessed the extent of the devastation in Pontevedra, Capiz.

He also went to an evacuation center where he led the ceremonial distribution of relief goods to several affected families.

In his speech, Duterte assured the storm victims of food supplies and directed Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary Eduardo del Rosario to visit the Agaton-hit areas to facilitate housing repairs.

Road repairs will be taken care of by the Department of Public Works and Highways, Duterte said. 

"Ang akin is nagpunta ako dito talagang may tulong. There is always an assistance because there is what you’d call the contingency fund," he said.

(I came here to bring assistance. There is always an assistance because there is what you’d call the contingency fund.)

On Good Friday, the President visited Baybay City, where 110 people were reported to have died after Agaton triggered landslides, according to the city government. 

He conducted an aerial inspection and presided over a situation briefing with officials from different government agencies and local government units to assess the casualties and damage Agaton caused.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said the reported death toll following the onslaught of Agaton rose to 167 as of Saturday morning.

Eastern Visayas had the highest number of reported fatalities (151), followed by Western Visayas (11), Davao Region (three), and Central Visayas (two). 

It added that only 12 deaths, six injured, and six missing have been confirmed. —VBL, GMA News