PNoy in touch with Cabinet amid 'Pedring' onslaught

President Benigno Aquino III assured the public on Tuesday that he remains informed of the developments surrounding the onslaught of Typhoon Pedring in northern Luzon and Metro Manila. "I have been in touch with Secretaries (Corazon) Soliman, (Voltaire) Gazmin, and (Rene) Almendras," Aquino said in a statement read by spokesman Edwin Lacierda at a press briefing in Malacañang. The President is in Japan for an official working visit. He left the country Sunday morning and is expected to return to the Philippines Wednesday afternoon. "I have instructed the Executive Secretary to compile information from NDRMMC (National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council) and to inform our people of conditions as well as of government efforts to mitigate the effects of the storm," he added. He said he received a report from Soliman that there have been two casualties in Maguindanao where there is severe flooding and people have not evacuated as they prefer to stay with their relatives. Nonetheless, relief packs have been readied and are being distributed. He said in Camarines Sur and Albay, preventive evacuations are ongoing. Aquino said 37 percent of Meralco service area is without power due to tripping caused by high winds. Meralco said a total of 1.9 million households or 44 percent of the power company's service areas are currently experiencing power outages. The President said he was assured that now that the winds have abated, Meralco is working on restoring power to affected areas. In Aurora and Isabela, on the other hand, concerned agencies are awaiting the passage of the storm to restore service. The President was also informed that in Marikina, the water level is not yet in the critical level but there are ongoing voluntary evacuations. “I am in constant touch with these members of my cabinet and the Executive Secretary has been instructed to keep me and the public informed of conditions pertaining as well as mitigation efforts," Aquino said. — RSJ, GMA News