Binay visits storm-affected areas in Cebu

MANILA, Philippines - Vice President Jejomar Binay visited yesterday areas in Cebu affected by Tropical Storm Seniang late last month.

The Vice President also defended the government’s preparations and response to Seniang, which lashed parts of the Visayas and Mindanao, killing more than 50 people.

“It’s not true that the government failed to issue information about the storm. It just so happened that the rains it brought were excessive,” Binay said in an interview.

“There were residents who refused to abandon their houses because they had not experienced this before,” he said.

Reports quoted some local officials and victims in the Visayas as saying they did not get advance warning on Seniang and that the basic needs of the evacuees were not being addressed.

Binay said his office would provide cash assistance to the families affected by Seniang in Ronda, Cebu.

He said a total of 1,800 relief packs were also provided to storm victims.

Ronda Mayor Mariano Blanco had said that while there were those who followed their request to evacuate, there were still a number of families who opted to stay home.

Blanco said these residents probably thought that Seniang would cause minimal destruction compared to past typhoons.  – With Mitchelle Palaubsanon