Palace denies claims gov't caught off guard by Cagayan, Isabela floods

Malacañang on Saturday denied allegations that the national government was caught off guard by the massive flooding in the provinces of Cagayan and Isabela due to Typhoon Ulysses.

“Hindi naman tayo caught unprepared dahil naka-preposition naman po ang ating mga pangangailangan,” Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said during the Laging Handa public briefing.

“Ang NDRRMC (National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council) dahil nga po sa karanasan na ito ay naka-preposition na po ang tulong.  Siguro po ang dagdag lang po ay yung mga aerial asset,” Roque said.

Massive floods have crippled the provinces of Cagayan widely believed caused by the release of water from Magat Dam.

Roque said that before dawn on Friday, the Department of Transportation (DOTr), through the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), has been “working round-the-clock, with the rescue of 15 individuals in Modelro, Sitio Pantalan, and Pantabangan in Tumauini, Isabela; 50 individuals in Barangay 12, Tuguegarao City; 47 individuals in Pengue Ruyu, Tuguegarao City; 13 individuals in Caritan Norte, Diversion Road, and Anufuan West, Tuguegarao City; and 70 individuals in Linao East, Tuguegarao City.”

Roque said at around 3:30 a.m., November 14, the PCG already deployed the first convoy of augmentation, composed of 10 rescue personnel, one multipurpose vehicle, one truck, and several newly-procured rubber boats.

“As of 9 a.m. today (Saturday), the PCG safely deployed the second convoy of deployable response groups (DRGs) to aid the ongoing rescue operations in Isabela, Tuguegarao, and Cagayan,” Roque said.

“Said DRGs are composed of 60 rescue and medical personnel, two buses, one 12-wheeler boom truck, two M-35 trucks, and a total of seven drivers.  They are also equipped with two rubber boats and three generator sets, as well as 44 drums of fuel for the rescue assets and vehicles,” he said.

Likewise, the Palace official said another convoy, composed of two trucks, is also on its way after loading 20 drums of fuel for the two Coast Guard airbus light twin engine helicopters that will be used to conduct aerial extraction.

“These two helicopters from the Coast Guard Aviation Force are now on their way to Cagayan and Isabela to conduct rescue and aerial extraction efforts. Meanwhile, Coast Guard islander plane is already in the area conduction aerial rescue operations,” Roque said.

Moreover, he said two more DRGs from the PCG Station in Ilocos Norte equipped with rubber boats are now on their way to Tuguegarao City via Pagudpud Highway.

“Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) already deployed 747 Search and Rescue (SAR) personnel and 1,003 Reactionary Standby Support Force (RSSF) in Region II, as of 6 a.m. today,” he added.

On the other hand, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, particularly the Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) shifted efforts from counterinsurgency to Search, Rescue, Retrieval, and Relief operations in CAR and Region 2. 

Roque said two Water Search-and-Rescue (WASAR) Teams from Tactical Operations Group (TOG) 2, Philippine Air Force (PAF) on its third day of operations in Ilagan City, Isabela, while three Search, Rescue, and Retrieval Teams of the Marine Battalion Landing Team (MBLT) 10 with two rubber boats and three trucks are now in Brgy Bacolod, Alcala, Cagayan.

“In addition, two Hueys were sent by NOLCOM from Clark to Cauayan, Isabela for operations in Cagayan, particularly Tuguegarao, for Rescue and Relief delivery operations to communities isolated by not passable roads,” he said.

“One Sikorsky S76 SAR helicopter is preparing to take off from Clark to Cagayan, and will proceed once the weather improves. Three WASAR teams (a team has one rubber boat and four SRR personnel) from 505 Search and Rescue Group of PAF are now ready at the Villamor Air Base to be airlifted by C-130 coming from Mactan, Cebu.  In addition, two Bell 412 helicopters are now on their way to Cagayan Valley,” he added.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Department of Health (DOH) regional offices are currently providing relief assistance to affected residents of Cagayan Valley and Isabela, according to the Palace official. —LBG, GMA News