MANILA – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is now sending rubber boats and other equipment to help residents severely affected by floods in Iloilo and Roxas City in Capiz.
Commodore Ed Ybañez, the Coast Guard District Commander in Western Visayas, added rescue operations are ongoing in Iloilo and Capiz.
In Capiz alone, a total of 16 local government units, 16 municipalities and one component city are flooded, according to the latest report from the Leyte Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.
Ybañez said he already deployed seven deployable response group (DRG) teams from the district to assist affected families.
Earlier, independent presidential candidate Sen. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson has sought assistance from retired PCG Commandant Vice Admiral Edmund Tan after receiving updates from Iloilo.
According to Lacson, Tan said he already informed incumbent Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Artemio Abu, a member of Philippine Military Academy Class 1992, and that the official "readily agreed" and will instruct the Coast Guard in the area to "act accordingly."
"Eto na ang action agad (This is prompt action)," Lacson, who chairs the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security, said.
For its part, the Lacson-Sotto Support Group (LSSG) in the area has started relief operations as well to help the affected residents.
Citing initial reports he received, Lacson said residents along the highway from Iloilo to Roxas City were stranded due to floods brought by Tropical Depression Agaton.
In the past days, "Agaton" brought heavy rains that caused flooding in parts of Western Visayas, including Iloilo. (PNA)
