OCD mobilizes resources for Bicol flood response

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) is mobilizing resources and deploying reinforcement teams to Bicol Region following severe flooding caused by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine.

Essential assets and equipment, committed by Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, are being gathered for deployment, with 17 air assets prepositioned in Villanmor Airbase and Cebu.

Teams and equipment from the Southern Luzon Command (Solcom) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) have been deployed to augment relief and rescue operations in Bicol.

Reinforcement teams from Eastern Visayas will also assist in rescue operations in flood-hit areas in Bicol.

OCD spokesperson Director Edgar Posadas noted that while Bicol has enough resources, the high floodwaters in areas like Naga and several municipalities in Camarines Sur, including Presentacion and Bula, remain a challenge.

Aid has already been mobilized in the towns of Polangui and Libon in Albay province.

Posadas expressed hope that additional AFP assets will help in providing more focused assistance once the weather improves and floodwaters subside.