President Benigno Simeon Aquino III is expected to visit Negros Oriental today to assess the devastation left behind by the Magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck Dumaguete City and other northern parts of the province.

An initial report said the President is expected to arrive at around 9 a.m. at the Dumaguete airport where he willmeet with local officials for a briefing.

Aquino and party will change aircrafts later to conduct an aerial survey of the areas damaged by the earthquake, like the landslides in Solonggon, La Libertad and Planas, Guihulngan City.

Aileen Lariba, of the Department of Social Welfare and Development,said the President will turn over cash-for-work assistance to earthquake victims.

A day before the President’s visit, Vice President Jejomar Binay and party also boarded two Philippine Air Force UH-1H helicopters for an aerial survey in Guihulngan and La Libertad and to talk to officials of Guihulngan.

Binay was briefed by Mayor Ernesto Reyes of Guihulngan, who later accompanied him and his staff on a tour of the city to see the damaged roads, bridges, houses and other infrastructure.

Binay also spoke to some of the displaced families at an evacuation center and promised that help from the national government is on the way.

Appeals are mounting for help for the victims in the form of water, clothing, food, and housing materials, especially in La Libertad and Guihulngan, the most devastated areas in the province.*JFP

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