Massive relief set for Laguna, Cavite

IMAGES OF PERENNIAL SUFFERING

PHOTOS: INQUIRER.net’s MATIKAS SANTOS and AP

MANILA, Philippines–The government will focus its massive disaster efforts in Laguna and Cavite, the two provinces hardest hit by heavy rains spawned by the southwest monsoon enhanced by tropical storm ”Maring” (international name Trami).

“As stated in the briefing we are focusing our efforts in the provinces of Cavite and Laguna,” National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC)

Executive Secretary Eduardo del Rosario said after a meeting attended by officials at the NDRRMC Headquarters at Camp Aguinaldo on Monday.

He added that they have to wait for the floods to subside but that responders are on site to help stranded passengers.

During the briefing, del Rosario identified the critical areas affected by the rains as the towns of Noveleta, Rosario, Imus, Kawit and Bacoor in Cavite; Biñan in Laguna; and Rodriguez and San Mateo in Rizal.

The meeting was convened by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Dinky Soliman, Metro Manila Development Authority
Chairman Francis Tolentino, del Rosario, and other officials.

A pickup truck is stuck in floodwaters in Brgy. Pag-asa, Imus, Cavite as tropical storm “Maring” continues to bring rains to the country. Photo contributed by Kamille Ricarte.

Laguna and Cavite were placed under state of calamity as waters swelled due to incessant torrential rains.

Gazmin, meanwhile, said that the Armed Forces of the Philippines already sent trucks to help stranded passengers.
Ochoa advised the public to stay in their homes and avoid going out as waters have not subsided yet.

“We have to advise our public to avoid going out as the waters haven’t subsided completely..So people need to be vigilant, and to those in evacuation centers, it’s better if you stay there for a while and don’t go back to your homes until your areas have not been given clearance,” he said.

Gates of major reservoirs in Binga, Ambuklao, Ipo, Magat were opened but water is being contained in San Roque Dam, according to del Rosario.

“There is no cause for alarm. This is a precautionary measure,” he said.