President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr. said the government is working to deploy rubber boats to areas affected by Typhoon Kristine, including provinces hit hard by flooding, such as Camarines Sur and Albay.
In response to a question regarding former Vice President Leni Robredo’s appeal for assistance, particularly for rubber boats, Mr. Marcos assured that efforts are already underway to get equipment to areas in need.
“As soon as we can get in, we will be doing that,” President Marcos said in an ambush interview on Wednesday.
“We are beginning to marshal our assets, like rubber boats, even from as far as Mindanao, and bringing them to the areas in need,” he added.
The President noted that Camarines Sur is particularly vulnerable, with half of the province now submerged due to its location in a basin shared with Albay.
“We’ve just received reports that half the province is underwater because it’s always hit by floods,” he said.
The president added that access to affected areas is limited due to impassable roads, but government agencies are monitoring the situation closely and will act as soon as conditions allow.
He mentioned that transporting rubber boats by helicopter is not feasible, so trucks will be used once roads are clear.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is on the ground and in contact with local offices to assess when access to these areas will be possible, according to the President.
“As always, we are at the mercy of the weather. We will just have to wait and see the full impact of Typhoon Kristine,” he said.
Typhoon Kristine has brought heavy rains and severe flooding to multiple provinces, and relief efforts are being hampered by ongoing dangerous conditions.
