Stranded vehicles are seen near an evacuation center in floodwaters from heavy rains brought about by storm Kristine (international name: Trami) in Naga City, Camarines Sur province on October 23, 2024. – Kristine has left the Bicol Region but the floods it triggered continued to submerge nine of the 36 towns in Camarines Sur as of Friday, October 25.(Photo by Pericles Festin / Agence France-Presse)
MANILA, Philippines — Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami) has left the Bicol Region but the floods it triggered continued to submerge nine of the 36 towns in Camarines Sur.
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian reported this to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during a briefing on Kristine’s effects in Malacañang on Friday.
“Mr. President, this morning I met with Governor Luigi Villafuerte and basically, the update is of his 36 local government units, nine of them are still submerged underwater,” said the DSWD chief, who was in Naga City to oversee the delivery of assistance provided by the government to affected communities.
“Of the 36, six are partially submerged,” he added.
READ: Kristine dumps 2 months’ worth of rain, leaves 40 dead, towns flooded
According to Gatchalian, the Camarines Sur provincial government has started delivering family food packs house-to-house by boats.
He likewise said that Manila Water and Maynilad were providing 400 pieces of 5-gallon and 2,000 6-liter containers of potable water for the region.
“We are now working with the Air Force so we can airlift these,” said Gatchalian.
READ: Loan programs available for Kristine-hit members, pensioners — SSS
The DSWD head likewise reported that his agency is already working with the Department of Health to augment their capacity in terms of providing health aid.
In the same briefing, Naga City Mayor Nelson Lagacion reported that flooding still distresses around 30,000 families in the town’s nine barangays.
He added that during Kristine’s onslaught, 30 percent of Naga City were flooded which affected around 70 percent of its population.
Gatchalian said around 86,000 food packs are on standby to assist affected residents of Naga City.