Rescue and relief operations continue in aftermath of 'Paeng'

MANILA, Philippines — With Tropical Storm Paeng set to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility Monday, the Philippine Coast Guard's rescue and relief operations continue in affected areas where many remain missing or trapped, it said in separate advisories. 

The Philippine Coast Guard in Northeastern Luzon has evacuated 169 residents and counting after they were trapped in different barangays in Tuguegarao City and Solana, Cagayan.

The PCG on Monday morning also returned to the hardest-hit area in Brgy. Kusiong in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao, where five others remain missing after they recovered 20 bodies on Sunday. 

"In their operation, they used wood to find in which part of the muddy barangay the bodies of the wanted individuals were submerged...The furniture and appliances of residents who lost their homes was also seen," the PCG said in its photo release. 

Earlier Monday morning, the PCG also rescued the five crew members of a sea barge, “Maria Elise,” that reportedly ran aground in the vicinity waters off Brgy. Malugao, Paluan, Occidental Mindoro after it was stranded in the middle of Paeng's onslaught. 

The PCG said it monitored a total of 2,941 passengers, drivers, and cargo helpers; 515 rolling cargoes; 8 vessels; and 8 motorbancas stranded. This was on top of the 74 vessels and 82 motorbancas documented taking shelter due to the effects of Paeng. 

From 12 a.m. to 6 in the morning on Monday, it also deployed 541 personnel who inspected 41 vessels and 32 motorbancas.  They also monitored 3,290 outbound passengers and 2,947 inbound passengers in all ports and waterways across the country.

READ: LGUs told to prepare as 'Queenie' intensifies into tropical storm

According to the latest situation report from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, 53 of the 58 confirmed deaths so far were from the Bangsamoro region. 69 individuals were also injured while 63 remain missing.

NDRRMC estimated the number of damaged houses stood at 4,188 worth around P12.415 million, 37 damaged infrastructure that costs P757.841 million, and agricultural damage was pegged at over P435.464 million.

DSWD to send out food packs

In a statement, the Department of Social Welfare and Development said that a total of P23.3 million worth of assistance was provided to the affected families as of 6 a.m. Sunday, of which, P22.3 million was from the department. The DSWD's National Resource Operations Center is also set to augment a total of 29,400 family food packs (FFPs) to its DSWD field offices.

During the coordination meeting of Secretary Erwin Tulfo with Regional Directors, the DSWD-NROC reported that it would dispatch 17 ten-wheeler trucks to Cagayan Region, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, Bicol Region, and the Cordillera Administrative Region containing:

• 1,000 food packs to Kawit, Cavite;
• 1,600 going to Noveleta, Cavite;
• 15,000 to Cagayan Valley;
• 5,000 to Bicol Region;
• 3,400 to Central Luzon;
• 3,400 to Cordillera Administrative Region.

The DSWD has over P1.49 billion worth of standby and stockpile funds ready for its disaster response operations, and Tulfo assured the public that it will continue to coordinate with affected local government units and preposition food and non-food items in strategic locations across the country.

READ: PAGASA monitors Tropical Depression Queenie as 'Paeng' exits

The department's front office in Metro Manila provided hot meals to 157 stranded passengers at Manila North Port. In the Cordilleras, they delivered 750 family food packs to Tanglagan, Calanasan, Apayao.

In Calabarzon Region, the DSWD delivered 1,500 food packs to the LGU of Gen. Luna, Quezon, and provided hygiene kits and FFPs to 1,973 families and hygiene kits to stranded passengers who are staying at the evacuation center in Malainin, Ibaan, Batangas.

In Zamboanga City, the DSWD provided 47 hot pack meals to the stranded passengers at Zamboanga City wharf and transported 385 FFPs and 385 sleeping kits for distribution to the affected families.