Noy visits flood-hit areas

MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday started visiting areas hit badly by the non-stop torrential rains brought on by the storm-enhanced southwest monsoon since Sunday, which affected more than a million people in Luzon.

Aquino went to Biñan, Laguna, which was placed under a state of calamity, due to massive flooding.

The President was accompanied by Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman in the distribution of relief packs to the affected residents temporarily staying at the Dela Paz Elementary School, which has been converted into an evacuation center.

Aquino assured the evacuees that the government will continue to provide them what they need during their stay at the temporary shelters.

The President also went to San Pedro, another town in Laguna that has been placed under a state of calamity.

Aquino was also scheduled to proceed to Mandaluyong City to visit other flood victims.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported early today that a totl of 223,991 families or 1,060,094 people were affected by the monsoon rains in Ilocos region, Cordillera, Central Luzon, Southern Luzon and Metro Manila.