Marcos might visit areas in Visayas, Mindanao affected by shear line rains

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. might visit the areas in Visayas and Mindanao affected by the rains brought by the shear line since the Christmas weekend.

Marcos was asked Thursday if he would visit the areas after his state visit to China on January 3 to 5, 2023. He said he would try to make time to see them.

"Probably, yeah, to see what happened. Unfortunately, tuloy-tuloy pa rin ‘yung ulan eh," Marcos responded.

"So we have to keep watching the other areas also. Kaya... But yes, probably if there is a reason to go. I think that so far our social services have done their job. But it always helps to go and see for yourself. So I’ll try to make the time to go," he added.

The number of reported fatalities due to the impact of rains has risen to 32, the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) said.

A total of 486,485 persons or 124,853 families were affected in 864 barangays in Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga, Northern Mindanao, Davao, Caraga, and Bangsamoro, according to the NDRRMC.

A state of calamity has already been declared in 20 cities and municipalities, including Llorente in Eastern Samar; Dapitan in Zamboanga Del Norte, Gingoog in Misamis Oriental, and the entire province of Misamis Occidental. — BM, GMA Integrated News