MALACAÑANG warded off allegations against President Rodrigo Duterte, whom netizens toyed anew as either missing in action or just asleep.
In a public press briefing Saturday, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said that the President is “on top of the situation,” adding that the chief executive has been calling shots even while attending the ASEAN virtual summit.
“The president is on top of the situation, he is in constant communication with [Defense] Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Usec Jalad (Undersecretary Ricardo Jalad) of NDRRMC at may koordinasyon din pagdating sa DSWD,” he said.Roque also called for unity amid the flooding.
“Indeed, this is a challenging time for every Filipino. Together, we ask everyone to unite, help one another, and show kindness to our fellowmen,” he said.
Relatedly, the Palace mouthpiece claims help is on the way for victims of heavy flooding in Cagayan Valley and the Cordillera Administrative Region, even as affected families and even the local chief executives themselves have made desperate calls for help in the flood-ravaged areas.
Roque said they have been continuing rescue operations in the affected areas and working “round the clock” to rescue individuals in different barangays and municipalities in Cagayan and Isabela.
“As early as dawn yesterday, the Department of Transportation through the Philippine Coast Guard, has been working round-the-clock with the rescue of 15 individuals in Modelro, Sitio Pantalan, and Pantabangan in Tumauini, Isabela; 50 individuals in Barangay 12, Tugueguerao City, 47 individuals in Pengue Ruyu, Tugueguerao City, 13 individuals in Caritan Norte, Diversion Road, and Anufuan West, Tugueguerao City; and 70 individuals in Linao East, Tugueguerao City,” Roque said in a statement issued Saturday, adding that convoys are on the way to assist stranded individuals.
According to Roque, as early as 3:30 a.m. Saturday, air, water and land transportation units have already been sent to augment operations in the affected areas.
He added that convoys containing drums of fuel for helicopters and other vehicles are also on their way for rescue operations – two trucks bringing fuel supplies for two helicopters of the Philippine Coast Guard for use in aerial rescue and two Coast Guard Aviation Force helicopters en route to Cagayan and Isabela.
A PCG islander plane is, meanwhile, already in the area, while rubber boats from the coast guard station in Ilocos Norte are on the way to Tuguegarao City.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development is also providing relief assistance for the affected residents, Roque said.
As early as Friday night, the social media has been swarmed with appeals to the national government to help Cagayan province and the whole Cagayan Valley, which experienced heavy flooding in the wake of Typhoon Ulysses.
As if the heavy rains were not enough, Magat Dam in the region also released excess water after it reached critical level, which “exacerbated” flooding in the province.