President Aquino to Visit Albay's Flood and Landslide-Stricken Areas

LEGAZPI CITY, Jan. 13 2011  - President Benigno Aquino III is set to arrive here on Friday to personally assess the damages wrought by floods and landslides caused by heavy rains that hit several towns of the province including this city, Albay Governor Joey Salceda said Thursday.

Salceda said preparations are in place for the arrival of President Aquino, who will be briefed by local and national disaster authorities concerning the current disaster situation, relief operation, the extent of damages and the proposed disaster rehabilitation plan.

President Aquino with executives of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) will hold on Friday whirlwind visits to Albay, Tacloban and Mindanao areas that were hit by floods and landslides due to prolonged rains brought be the Tail End of the Cold Front.

The Chief Executive is expected to visit this city, St. Bernard town in Southern Leyte, and Butuan City in Agusan del Norte.

Salceda said activities lined up for President Aquino include: briefing on disaster operation efforts made by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) at the Tactical Operations Group 5 (TOG5) Philippine Air Force (PAF) compound here.

The briefing conference will be followed by a turnover of relief goods by President Aquino to Gov. Salceda.

If time would allow, President Aquino might also visit an evacuation camp in Malilipot, Albay.

In his visit here, the Chief Executive will be accompanied by the secretaries of Defense, Interior and Local Government, Social Welfare, Science and Technology, Health, Highways, Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). (PNA)