Palace seeks boats, volunteers to help typhoon, flood victims

Malacañang over the weekend called on Filipinos, especially those in Metro Manila, to volunteer boats and services to help people devastated by recent typhoons, especially those affected by the flooding in Central Luzon. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said relief and rescue workers need boats that can maneuver in flooded areas in Central Luzon, and volunteers who can help repack relief goods of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. “The DSWD is repacking relief goods at its warehouse near the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. If you want to volunteer your services, you can do so. As for the wealthier Filipinos who own rubber boats or speedboats and want to lend them to our authorities, they can get in touch with the local government officials concerned," Valte said on government-run dzRB radio. She said several towns in Northern Luzon are still reeling from the effects of typhoon Pedring (Nesat), which pounded Luzon earlier this week. Valte said she had received messages from some people asking how they can help the victims of the calamities. But she noted authorities may have a hard time getting to the flood-hit areas even with rubber boats because of the narrow streets. “The streets are narrow and our rubber boats cannot enter some areas. We are borrowing some bancas and removing the outriggers so they can fit in the streets," she said. Meanwhile, Typhoon Quiel (Nalgae) made landfall over Isabela province Saturday morning and crossed northern Luzon from the eastern seaboard. In its Sunday morning update, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Quiel is expected to exit the country's territory by Sunday afternoon. Several communities in Central Luzon, including Bulacan and Pampanga, have been trapped by flooding spawned by recent typhoons that hit northern Luzon. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council remains on red alert and has its assets on standby to help typhoon and flood victims. Even the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine National Police have lent teams to the affected areas. — LBG, GMA News