President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday directed members of the Cabinet to provide assistance to the victims of Tropical Storm Auring.

Duterte gave the directive during a situational briefing held in Tandag City, Surigao del Sur on Tuesday afternoon, Senator Christopher Lawrence Go said in a press statement.

“President Duterte instructed agencies to immediately and holistically respond to the needs of affected communities. He also emphasized that he does not want local government officials to have to go to Metro Manila to personally do the follow-up,” said Go, who joined Duterte in the briefing.

Duterte, along with Go, conducted an aerial inspection of affected areas in Surigao del Sur before holding a situational briefing with concerned national and local officials in Tandag City.

Floods hit different parts of Surigao del Sur on Sunday due to heavy rains caused by “Auring.”

Duterte told his Cabinet to send their respective representatives to Surigao del Sur within the week to assess the total damage of the typhoon, Go said.

Go said the President also wants to make sure that delivery of public services in the province remains unhampered.

“The Office of Civil Defense, as lead of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, shall consolidate all actions to be taken by government agencies,” he said.

As of Tuesday morning, around 31,884 families residing in Bicol Region, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, and Caraga Region have been affected by the weather disturbance, based on the figures provided by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

The Department of Agriculture said agricultural damage losses incurred due to the tropical depression is now PHP21.56 million affecting 240 farmers and 1,756 hectares of farmlands nationwide. (PNA)