Bulacan, spared by Typhoon Rolly, sending aid to areas hardest hit by storm

CITY OF MALOLOS—Bulacan province is sending humanitarian aid to areas in Bicol and Southern Luzon hit hard by Category 5 Typhoon Rolly (international name Goni).

The Bulacan provincial disaster risk reduction and management office (PDRRMO) began coordinating efforts to send aid to the hardest-hit communities, especially in Albay province.

Rolly was downgraded to a tropical storm as it moved away from the country on Sunday evening (Nov. 1) after making landfalls in the provinces of Catanduanes, Albay, Quezon and Batangas.

It diverted from its projected northwest track and spared the National Capital Region and Central Luzon provinces.

Bulacan, where tropical cyclone wind signal No. 4 was raised at one point, experienced only occasional wind gusts and slight to moderate rains.

Residents and local officials said the change in Rolly’s track was “God’s miracle.”

“We will send help to Albay as one way of expressing our gratitude for being spared from the super typhoon,” said Bulacan Gov. Daniel Fernando.

Despite the minimal impact of Rolly on Bulacan, at least 451 families, or 1,521 people, in the province remained in government shelters due to rains dumped by two previous typhoons—Pepito and Quinta.

Torrential rains also raised water levels at the reservoirs of Ipo, Bustos and Angat dams, all in Bulacan.

On Monday (Nov. 2), Ipo and Bustos dams continued to release water after their reservoirs reached spilling levels. Both dams catch runoff water from Angat Dam.

Water level at Angat Dam was 201.91 meters above sea level (masl) on Monday afternoon, which was 10 meters lower than its spilling mark.

TSB