PNoy: LGU's handling of 'Yolanda' under probe

President Benigno S. Aquino III distributes relief goods to families displaced by super typhoon Yolanda at the evacuation center in the Municipality of Palo, Leyte during his visit to provinces in Eastern Visayas on Monday (November 18). President Aquino assures the public on speeding up the recovery and reconstruction efforts to restore normalcy in regions hit by the strongest typhoon ever recorded in Philippine history. (Photo by Marcelino Pascua / Malacañang Photo Bureau / PCOO)

President Benigno Aquino III said an investigation is already ongoing against local officials in calamity-stricken areas for their “shortcomings” in the aftermath of super typhoon Yolanda.
 
Aquino said casualties could have lessened if only the local officials prepared well enough. Despite this,  the President said he’d rather have the investigation finished before accusing anybody or naming names.

President is still in Tacloban overseeing the relief and rehabilitation efforts for typhoon survivors. 
 
Latest count from National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Yolanda death toll now stands at 3,982.

Petilla to quit if power not restored in Visayas before Christmas Day

Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla says he is ready to leave his post if the government failed to completely restore power in Yolanda-battered areas by December 24.
 
However, Petilla clarified that his commitment to restore power supply by December 24 only covers the towns and the surrounding villages and not those remote areas. Areas with large population will be prioritized too.
 
While doing the restoration, Petilla said they will try not to increase electricity rates. Thus, he made a request to President Aquino to just charge it in the calamity funds.
 
The National Grid Corporation said Yolanda damaged over 160 posts in the Visayas.