Duterte assures enough troops deployed in Region 2 amid flooding

President Rodrigo Duterte on Saturday said the government will deploy a sufficient number of troops to assist residents in Isabela and Cagayan affected by widespread flooding following Typhoon Ulysses' onslaught.

The release of water from Magat Dam was identified as among the causes of flooding in the said provinces following the onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses.

“Ang pinag-uusapan kasi rito, ano ang ginagawa ng gobyerno na mga hakbang? Dapat malaman. At ang tulong, paano makarating sa inyo sa madaling panahon,” Duterte said in a televised speech.

“At ‘yung mga tao ngayon andiyan, mga Coast Guard, merong Army, may Navy na pupunta diyan nang madalian para makatulong sa inyo. Ito sila nagtatrabaho round-the-clock, ibig sabihin walang hinto relyebo lang at ang mga augmentation... mga iba ibang may maitulong andiyan,” he said.

The President said the aircraft of the Philippine Coast Guard are on standby to further boost rescue and relief efforts.

“Ang pinakamadali ang Armed Forces of the Philippines, particularly the [Northern] Luzon Comand has been deployed...lahat ‘yan Navy, Army, Coast guard naka-deploy diyan sa Region 2,’ Duterte said.

“Dalawang helicopter pinahiram ng NOLCOM at kung kailangan pa ang mga helicopter na naiwan, ipapadala ko para sa pagtulong sa tao lalo na ‘yung nasa bubong at kung andiyan pa at madalian,” he said.

He also said he will order the Philippine Air Force to deploy additional aircraft or helicopters to help in the rescue operations.

“Ang gobyerno papasok sa madaling panahon. Gamit lahat ‘yung mga assets na pag-aari... mga ari-arian ng gobyerno at gagamitin doon and I will see to it na talagang dadating ‘yan,” Duterte said.

“Alam ko na inaasahan ninyo ang tulong ay aabot sa madaling panhon sa lugar ninyo,” he said.

In a separate statement, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said before dawn on Friday, the Department of Transportation (DOTr), through the 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. on Saturday, 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 conducting 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) were 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 Barangay 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.

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council spokesperson Mark Timbal earlier on Saturday said more than 3,700 personnel have already been deployed to rescue stranded individuals in Cagayan and Isabela.

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, Roque said. 

Cagayan and Isabela have been placed under state of calamity due to the widespread flooding.

Many residents sought refuge on their rooftops and were asking to be rescued. —KG, GMA News