OFWs worry about loved ones' safety amid floods

Some overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) on Saturday expressed concern over the safety of their loved ones back home after receiving calls from their families asking for help as tropical storm '"Ondoy" continued to pummel the northern Philippines.

GMANews.TV received several calls on Saturday from OFWs inquiring about rescue efforts being undertaken to save their relatives. Pete Romero, a project specialist from Jubail in eastern Saudi Arabia, told GMANews.TV that his family in Sta. Lucia village in Pasig City has cried for help as flood waters continue to rise in the area. "Sana matulungan ho sila, sobra na ho akong nag-aalala dito (I hope someone could help them, I'm already very worried here)," Romero said in a phone interview. Flood waters in Sta. Lucia have already reached the second floor of their house, Romero added. Another caller from Saudi Arabia reported that his relatives in Rodriguez (Montalban) in Rizal have been stranded on the roof of their house, waiting for rescuers to come. Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. earlier ordered government troops to rescue and evacuate residents in flooded areas. Teodoro, who chairs the National Disaster Coordinating Council, said in a briefing that local governments in places under a state of calamity are allowed to mobilize resources needed in rescue, evacuation and relief operations. The provinces are Aurora, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Zambales, Pampanga, Bulacan, Rizal, Quezon, Isabela, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, La Union, Ilocos Sur, Laguna, Cavite, Batangas, Mindoro Oriental, Mindoro Occidental, Marinduque, Camarines Norte, and Bataan. [See: Metro Manila, 25 provinces placed under state of calamity] For overseas Filipinos who would like to get more information about their loved ones in the Philippines the following hotlines are available: National Disaster Coordinating Committee 911-1406 911-1873 912-2665 911-5061 912-5296 912-5668 Help hotlines: 734-2118 734-2120 Philippine Coast Guard 527-6136 Red Cross 143 527-0000 Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) 136 896-6000 Taguig emergency hotline 1623 Bureau of Fire Protection Region III (Central Luzon) Hotline (045) 9634376 Meralco 16220 Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. emergency hotlines for dumptrucks going to flooded areas for rescue of stranded people: 0917 4226800 0917 2414864 0927 6751981 GMANews.TV has also opened a Facebook discussion board for updates regarding the storm. People can post their concerns or requests for help, so concerned citizens will know how to respond. Visit the discussion page here. - Joseph Holandes Ubalde, GMANews.TV