Some residents start to beg in Nueva Ecija town

Some residents of San Leonardo in Nueva Ecija have taken to begging for alms after their homes were destroyed by tropical cyclone Lando, GMA News TV's Balita Pilipinas reported on Tuesday.

According to the group of mostly women, the coins and spare bills they've received will be pooled to buy food and other supplies for their families.

"Malaki po pangangailangan ko para ho sa anak ko. Wala na ho kaming bahay. Naanod. Na-epilepsy pa po yung anak kong panganay," said a mother.

"Kaya po sana mapuntahan po nila kami ding mag-iina," she added, referring to relief workers.

Nueva Ecija was placed under a state of calamity on Monday evening due to extreme flooding. The waters are also hampering rescue operations in Cabanatuan City.

The Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 defines a state of calamity as "a condition involving mass casualty and/or major damages to property, disruption of means of livelihoods, roads, and normal way of life of people in the affected areas as a result of the occurrence of natural or human-induced hazard."

Local government units may enact a supplemental budget for supplies and materials or payment of services to prevent danger to or loss of life or property during a state of calamity.

A state of calamity was also declared in Ilagan City, Isabela, and in Pangasinan. -NB, GMA News