MANILA, Philippines – While the Pope is in the country, there’s no rest for President Benigno Aquino III’s Cabinet.

On Saturday, January 17, members of the President’s administration waited in the rain in Tacloban for the arrival of Pope Francis.

According to Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr, who was among the waiting party in Leyte, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr, Public Works  Secretary Rogelio Singson, Transportation Secretary  Joseph Emilio Abaya, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Francis Tolentino and Undersecretary Manny Bautista – in charge of security for the Pope’s visit – are all “waiting for the Pope’s arrival at Tacloban airport.”

A day earlier, every member of Aquino’s 26-strong Cabinet welcomed the pope to Malacañang.

Hundreds of locals are also waiting for the Pope at the airport, despite heavy rains brought by Tropical Storm Amang, the first of the year. The province of Leyte, which Francis is set to visit, is under Storm Warning Signal No. 2, according to the Philippines’ state weather bureau.

The plane carrying the Pope touched down at the Daniel Romualdez airport at 8:49 am. Pope Francis has said his trip to the province is the center of his Philippine visit. He will be there to console the victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).

Super Typhoon Yolanda devastated the region on November 8, 2013, killing thousands. Over a year since the disaster, many are still struggling to recover, and to find permanent shelter and livelihood.

The trip to Eastern Visayas is part of the pope’s 5-day papal visit to the Philippines which began Thursday and ends on Monday, January 19. – Rappler.com