Floods hinder aid delivery, rescue in Bicol areas

Metro Manila, Philippines — Authorities said they found it difficult to reach some flooded areas in Bicol region on Thursday, Oct. 24, hindering needed aid delivery and rescue in storm-hit communities.

RELATED: Non-stop rains submerge half of Naga City 

The Social Welfare Department said it has pre-positioned over 150,000 family food packs ahead of the storm.

"What's the difficult part is ‘yung unpassable road. So, kailangan pa ng clearing on this," Leo Quintilla, DSWD special assistant to the secretary for disaster response and management group, said in a briefing.

"Meron pa mga areas na Naga, Cam Sur (Camarines Sur) na hindi pa natin ma-reach... but with the continuous clearing of course by the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways), hopefully, mag-subside na po yung mga baha natin ay ma-reach na natin yung mga areas na to," Quintilla said.

[Translation: There are areas in Naga, Camarines Sur, that we cannot reach. But with the continuous clearing by the DPWH, hopefully, floods will subside so that we can reach them.]

He said the DSWD will tap transport and courier groups who volunteered to bring goods, family food packs, and non-food items to disaster areas.

In a Palace briefing, the Office of Civil Defense said rescue is urgently needed in Bicol, but floods pose a challenge.

"There are enough resources pero 'yon nga sa taas ng baha, these are in Naga and in several other municipalities in Camarines Sur such as Presentacion, Bula, and the other towns nearby," OCD spokesperson director Edgar Posadas said. "But as we speak, merong padating na mga reinforcement from the Southern Luzon Command, both personnel and equipment."

[Translation: The challenge that they still face is the flooding, which is still very high. There are enough resources but there are still flooded areas in Naga and in several other municipalities in Camarines Sur such as Presentacion, Bula, and the other towns nearby. But as we speak, reinforcement is coming from the Southern Luzon Command, both personnel and equipment.]

He said a contingent from Eastern Visayas is also on its way.

Police reported 20 deaths in the region, which is still up for OCD validation.