By Azer Parrocha
MANILA, (PNA) — Flooded areas in Olongapo, Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga and Bulacan will be visited by Philippine Red Cross Chairman Richard Gordon throughout the week to facilitate the rescue and relief operations.
The southwest monsoon has been affecting parts of Luzon and Visayas resulting in nonstop rain and flooding in various areas since Saturday.
Olongapo’s city council has unanimously declared Subic, Zambales under a state of calamity.
Apart from power interruptions affecting the city, landslides have also been reported in San Isidro and Purok 3 and 4 Asinan Proper.
So far, PRC has deployed two Water Search and Rescue teams, two 6×6 trucks and two plastic boats from the National Headquarters.
There are also two other teams and one ambulance coming from the Olongapo Chapter to assist in the ongoing rescue operations.
A total 11 evacuation centers across Batangas, Occidental Mindoro and Zambales are currently serving 416 families and 1,768 individuals.
PRC continues to closely monitor the situation and has informed all chapters on PAG-ASA weather reports.
Emergency response teams, staff and volunteers have been alerted as well. Likewise, the Red Cross National Headquarters is closely coordinating with affected chapters for update situations regarding the incident.
“Red Cross highly encourages everyone in affected areas to evacuate as soon as they can, and for those who cannot relocate to display a white flag outside their houses to notify rescuers,” Gordon said.
He also encouraged the public to refer to the PRC official Twitter account for safety flood tips as well as other useful health information the public can use.