Duterte to gov’t officials: Finish rehab efforts in storm-hit Surigao del Sur within a week

President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered government officials to finish the rehabilitation efforts in storm-hit Surigao del Sur within a week.

During the post-disaster briefing in Tandag City on Tuesday, Duterte instructed local officials to hire competent people to lead the recovery efforts in the province which was submerged into floodwaters this week due to heavy rains brought by Typhoon Auring (international name: Dujuan).

“You have one week to do all of it. Send more help here if it’s lacking. If there’s anything to be fixed, do it, come back here,” the president said in a mix of English and vernacular.

“If not you, then send a competent — not an imbecile — a competent engineer in your office,” he added.

Duterte also instructed officials to focus on aiding the province’s agriculture sector and fixing the damaged infrastructure within the week.

The typhoon reportedly caused at least P21.56 million damage in agriculture.

Photos from the Facebook page of the Public Information Agency also showed that several structures in Caraga Region suffered from severe damage due to Auring.

At least 240 houses were destroyed in Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, and Caraga region.Twelve road sections and one bridge were affected, but seven of these road sections are already passable.

Meanwhile, Duterte emphasized the need for the distribution of food and water to typhoon victims.

Over 112,000 individuals or 29,000 families were affected by the typhoon, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

A six-year-old child in Claver, Surigao del Norte died due to drowning. Four people went missing, while two more people were injured.

The spillover of Bonifacio River in Surigao City and Tandag River in Surigao del Sur submerged roads and houses following floods caused by heavy rains, prompting the Philippine Coast Guard to launch rescue operations.