Reinforcements sent to ‘Kristine’-hit Bicol: OCD

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – Teams and equipment from the Southern Luzon Command (Solcom) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) have been deployed to augment relief and rescue and operations in the Bicol Region, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said Thursday.

While the Bicol Region has enough resources amid the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name Trami), the severe flooding triggered by heavy rains in some parts of the region remains a challenge, OCD spokesperson Director Edgar Posadas said in a Palace press briefing.

“Taas ng baha (The floodwater is too high). These are in Naga and several municipalities in Camarines Sur such as Presentacion, Bula, and the other towns nearby,” Posadas said.

“But as we speak, mayroong padating na (there will be) reinforcements from the Southern Luzon Command, both personnel and equipment,” he added.

Posadas said reinforcement teams from Eastern Visayas would also assist in rescue operations in flood-hit areas in Bicol.

He said aid has already been mobilized in the towns of Polangui and Libon in Albay province.

“I’m sure malaking tulong ‘yun (that’s a big help) and with the assets ng (of the) Armed Forces readily deployable that would address and hopefully, kapag gumanda ang panahon and then bumaba na ng konti iyong pagbaha, then mas matutukan natin talaga iyong mas puspusan na pagtulong (when the weather gets better and the flooding subsides, then we can really focus more on providing assistance),” Posadas said.

Posadas said the OCD is also gathering all the needed assets and equipment committed by Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro during the situation briefing presided over by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday.

He said there are 17 air assets prepositioned in Pasay City and Cebu “which are readily deployable, weather permitting.”

Posadas said the national government is ready to mobilize its resources to help Bicol following the severe flooding caused by Kristine.

He also assured the public that the OCD would also send help to “less affected regions.”

During the situation briefing on Wednesday, Marcos ordered the deployment of more rubber boats and other rescue equipment to Bicol Region.

The Bicol Region is among the hardest hit by Kristine.

As of Thursday morning, there have been 10 reported deaths, two injuries and nine missing persons, according to the data from the OCD.

Response clusters activated

The agency also assured the public that there would be no letup in relief efforts for “Kristine”- affected communities as “clusters in response” had been activated.

“Clusters in response are activated. Kristine is still within the Philippine area of responsibility, and so there is no let-up; we continue to monitor and collaborate with the different agencies of the council,” Posadas added.

This announcement came as the agency received reports indicating the “milder” effects of Kristine’s landfall in Isabela earlier Thursday.

“I asked our regional director for Region II, and I was informed that the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) of Divilacan town, where Severe Tropical Storm Kristine made landfall just past midnight, reported that mas malakas pa daw kahapon yung ulan at hangin kaysa dun sa actual landfall (the rains and winds were stronger yesterday compared to the actual landfall),” Posadas noted.

Posadas said no casualties have so far been reported in Isabela.

DPWH: 29 road sections closed due to ‘Kristine’

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said as of Thursday noon, a total of 29 road sections are closed to traffic due to the effects of Kristine.

These include 18 road sections in Bicol; four in Cordillera; four in Calabarzon; two in Cagayan Valley and one in Central Luzon.

The agency said this is due to soil collapse, flooding, collapsed pavemenst, landslide, fallen trees, rock collapse, rockslides, debris, and collapsed bridges.

Also, nine road sections have limited access: three in Calabarzon and six in Bicol due to soil/rock collapse, road collapse, and flooding.

All national roads and bridges in other affected regions are passable to all types of vehicles to date. (with Priam Nepomuceno & Ferdinand Patinio/PNA)