4 days after Pedring, relief arrives in flooded Hagonoy

(Updated 6:20 p.m.) While bracing for another storm, devastated Hagonoy, Bulacan was still waiting for relief from national agencies on Saturday afternoon, four days after Typhoon Pedring spawned Ondoy-like flooding in the town. "What we need is drinking water and baby milk," said Mayor Angel Cruz jr. "Relief assistance from Manila will be arriving daw tomorrow (Sunday). Malakihan iyong dadating so hopefully maa-address nun ang needs namin ngayon." Update: Shortly after Cruz was interviewed, DSWD relief goods finally arrived in the town. In a text message, Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman said 4000 packs were delivered, consisting of clothes, water jugs, hygiene kits, food, and banigs. She added that "trucks left last night (Friday) but got stalled due to floods," and the goods eventually had to be transferred to military trucks. "Di kinaya ng DSWD truck," Soliman said. Mayor Cruz of Hagonoy would only confirm that 3400 relief packs arrived in his town.
Flooded areas are indicated by blue pins. Major dams are indicated by flags.
Click here to view this in a larger map. Despite deluge, no casualties Apart from a looming food crisis, the submerged town is also facing rising flood waters, with Saturday's level being 25 to 30 centimeters higher than the day before. The Pampanga River continues to overflow, even after the gates of Angat Dam were closed on Friday afternoon. Despite the floods, Cruz said he is thankful there has been no reported casualty yet from the typhoon in their town. However, over a thousand residents in Hagonoy have been evacuated to three evacuation centers, but some choose to leave and return to their flooded communities to check on their properties. "We don't have a fixed number on evacuees. Paiba-iba. There are people who do not want to stay in evacuation centers too long so they return to their homes during the day," he said. And as Hagonoy residents continue to endure the wrath of Pedring which struck earlier this week, they will have to face the new challenges from a new tropical cyclone, Quiel, which made landfall in Isabela and is expected to cross five provinces in Luzon within the day. "Hagonoy is coastal so we expect high waves over the coastal area with the arrival of Quiel," Cruz said. He has appealed to his constituents to stay at home or seek higher ground. He also asked them through a text blast to share whatever food and water they have.- HS, GMA News