Water current too strong in Cagayan, but more help on the way, says OCD

The Office of Civil Defense in Region II on Saturday said they are responding the best way they can to calls for rescue from stranded individuals in Cagayan, but the water current is hampering efforts. 

"Ang current situation ay ang agarang responde sa mga tawag simula kagabi hanggang ngayong umaga. Tumatawag po ang ating mga kababayan. Ang mga bahay nila ay lubog na po," said OCD Region II Information Officer Michael Conag in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

Many residents in Cagayan were trapped on their rooftops where they sought shelter as floodwaters rose following days of heavy rains from Typhoon Ulysses. Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba on Friday said 156 barangays from 24 out of 29 areas were still flooded.

The OCD said the most number of calls for rescue came from Tuguegarao City.

"Sa Tuguegarao ang pinakamaraming tawag, specifically Linao East. 'Yan po ay talagang nireresponde natin," Conag said.

However, he said their water assets were hampered by the strong current of the floodwaters.

"Hindi kaya ng water assets ang current ng tubig," Conag said.

The OCD official said they are awaiting the augmenting team sent by the national government to help them in the search, rescue and retrieval operations.

"Hinihintay natin ang augmenting team. Na-coordinate na natin sa national [government] kagabi pa," he said.

"Sana makarating na sila ngayon para mapalitan na 'yung mga responders natin doon sa field at ma-deploy ang mga water assets na kailangan," Conag added.

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

"We have 3,776 personnel deployed and conducting SRR [search, rescue and retrieval] to support the LGUs," Timbal said in a message sent to reporters.

Food and water

Conag also said the affected residents needing rescue were asking for food and water.

"Ang immediate na dinadaing nila ay pagkain at tubig. Mahigit 24 hours na wala pa hong makarating na tulong sa kanila," he said.

Initial reports reaching OCD showed that almost 7,000 families or 24,000 individuals were affected by the floodwaters, Conag added.

Conag also said their responders have been in affected areas since the floodwaters started rising three days ago.

"Ang ating mga responders ho na simula pa ho noong tumaas ang tubig, halos tatlong araw na po naka-deploy. Nagsasalitan ang ating mga responders natin dito sa pagresponde sa mga tumatawag," he said.

Conag assured that every call for rescue is relayed to the rescue teams.

"Lahat po ng tawag ng ating mga kababayan ay lifted at coordinated with our responders on the ground," he said.

Ulysses, Magat Dam

Conag said the heavy rains from Typhoon Ulysses and other weather disturbances plus the water released by Magat Dam contributed to the rise in floodwaters.

"Ang previous weather disturbances na nagkaroon din tayo ng instances ng landslides at flooding, na-aggravate ho ng dalang ulan ni Bagyong Ulysses although hindi direct hit ang Region II," he said.

"Na-aggravate dahil dito ng ulan dulot ni Ulysses at 'yong pag-release din ng Magat Dam [ng tubig] ay isa ring contribution," Conag said.

He however clarified that the release of water from the dam was not the main cause of the floodwaters.

"Hindi ho majority ay dahil sa pag-release ng Magat Dam... May tributaries din from higher areas from Nueva Vizcaya at Isabela. Bumababa din po [ang tubig]. Ang catch basin ang Cagayan po," Conag said.

Illegal logging, mining

Conag also said illegal logging and small-scale mining may have contributed to the flooding.

"Isang factor din po yan, ang mga illegal logging. Nakikiusap kami sa ating mga kababayan na medyo itigil sana ho 'yung illegal logging na 'yan at small-scale mining. Isang factor din 'yan ng epekto na ito," he said.

"Nagkaroon din tayo ng reported landslides dahil sa pag-aabuso na ito," Conag said.

"Itong nangyaring ito according to the residents, ngayon lang sila inabot, 'yung ganito kataas ang lebel ng tubig," he added.

Equipment needed

What are needed now are large water assets that can handle the water current and reach affected residents, he said.

"'Yung talagang kailangan natin 'yung medyo malaking water assets o mas malaki na equipment. 'Yun ang agarang kailangan sa area kung saan marami ang tumatawag ng tulong dahil hindi natin puwede ma-compromise safety ng ating responders," Conag said.

"Today sana makumpuni... ang safety teams," he added.

"Sa kagustuhan po natin na marespondehan lahat ng tawag nila, 'yun ang kailangan natin, ang equipment para marespondehan," Conag said.

Help is on the way

The OCD official gave the assurance to affected residents that help is on the way.

"Ginagawa po ang lahat ng makakaya para maibigay ang agarang responde sa kanila," Conag said.

"Hold on po muna tayong mga kababayan sa Cagayan Valley. 'Yung ating augmenting team at 'yung tulong ay paparating na po," he said.

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