Rescue operations have shifted to relief operations in the province of Cagayan as floodwater continue to recede in some areas affected by massive flooding over the weekend.
“Wala na talagang humihingi ng rescue. We’ve shifted, full swing na relief operations, especially doon sa mga remote barangays (No one is asking to be rescued anymore. We’ve shifted, full swing on relief operations, especially in remote barangays),” Task Force Lingkod Cagayan head Ruelie Rapsing reported.
As of Monday afternoon, 21 barangays and three towns remain flooded in the province, affecting more than 100,000 families or nearly 400,000 individuals.
Some isolated areas can only be reached by choppers for relief distribution due to flooding, including Amulung West which remain unreachable by land assets.
“May mga barangays sa Alcala na kailangang dalhan ng ating mga helicopters. May barangays din sa Amulung at sa Baggao na nagre-request na madalhan sila through helicopter (There are some barangays in Alcala that need relief goods via helicopters. Some barangays in Amulung and Baggao are also requesting for goods through helicopter),” Cagayan Gov. Manuel Mamba said in the Laging Handa briefing.
The Philippine Air Force (PAF) is also distributing goods to Enrile, Baggao, Amulung, Alcala, Lallo, and Sto. Niῆo. Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel are also using boats for relief distribution to flooded areas when possible.
The Cagayan Provincial Information Office informed on its Facebook page on Monday that the water level in Buntun Bridge dropped to 7.39 meters as of 4:20 p.m.
“We expect in the next 2 days kung hindi na uulan ay wala na pong mga bahang areas. (We expect that there will be no more flooded areas in the next two days if there will be no more downpour),” Mamba projected.
Meanwhile, Senator Imee Marcos who visited the province said water management, including a unified department to monitor it, must be given attention to. She wants a Senate inquiry on the flooding incident “for the purpose of doing constructive changes.” – Report from Kenneth Paciente
