The government is prepared to mobilize its resources to help Bicol following the severe flooding caused by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine.

At a press briefing in Malacañang on Thursday, Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Spokesperson Director Edgar Posadas said the OCD is gathering all the essential assets and equipment committed by Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro during the situation briefing presided over by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday.

“As we speak po, kinokolekta na po ‘yung mga commitment din ni Secretary Teodoro through the J3 po. In fact, nakita ko na po ‘yung listahan ng mga equipment,” Posadas told reporters.

“Mayroon din po tayong 17 na air assets na naka-preposition sa Villamor, naka-preposition sa Cebu, which are readily deployable weather permitting kasi we have to be sure din po that our pilots, our assets are safe. And iyan po ay commitment and we are going to keep it,” he added.

Posadas said help and other government assistance are already on the way to Bicol and other provinces that were severely flooded.

“And as we speak po, dumadating na rin ‘yung tulong sa Bicol. Una sabi ko nga ‘yung galing sa SOLCOM (Southern Luzon Command) which is the area command nearest – ‘yung jurisdiction niya po ‘yung Bicol and Region VIII which is the nearby region from Tacloban,” he said.

President Marcos earlier instructed concerned agencies to marshal all necessary assets, such as rubber boats, even from as far as Mindanao, and bring them to areas affected by the storm.

The President also responded to the request of former vice president Leni Robredo for rubber boats in Naga City, which was also severely affected by the massive flooding. | PND