PBBM to visit victims of shear line rains after China trip

President Bongbong Marcos will visit the victims of the heavy shear line rainfall and flooding in Bicol, Visayas, and Mindanao regions after his state visit to China early next month.

In a video message released to reporters by the Office of the Press Secretary on Thursday, 29 December, the President said he would visit these areas after his trip to Beijing from 3 to 5 January 2023 to personally assess the situation on the ground.

"Unfortunately, it continues to rain, so we have to keep watching the other areas also… but yes, probably if there is a reason to go," Marcos said.

He said personnel of the Department of Social Welfare and Development has so far done their job in providing relief assistance to affected families and individuals.

"But it always helps to go and see for yourself. So I'll try to make the time to go," he said.

Heavy rains submerged rural villages, towns, and highways in Bicol, Visayas, and Mindanao regions on Christmas Day, forcing many people to flee their homes.

A new low-pressure system may bring moderate to heavy rains to the same areas in the eastern, central, and southern parts of the country that have been affected by the floods.

According to National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, the number of reported fatalities due to the impact of rains brought by the shear line in Visayas in Mindanao since the Christmas weekend has risen to 32 as of Thursday.