Marcos wants 'focused' gov't response to flood-hit victims

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Thursday instructed a "very focused" government response and aid distribution to those affected by the Super Typhoon Carina-enhanced Habagat.

The President made the directive in a situation briefing at Malacañang on Thursday before he conducted an inspection in affected areas in Metro Manila and Central Luzon.

"What we are trying to do here is, essentially, is to have a very good understanding of what the situation is on the ground so that you know when it comes to these things, whatever assets you have, whatever resources you have they are always not enough and that's why it has to be focused," Marcos said.

"Kaya hindi pwedeng basta sasabihin 'Lahat d'yan, marami d'yan, basta ipadala ko yan.' We have to be very focused in the use of what we have. So that's what why we need to determine where are the areas that is still in the rescue phase-- na hanggang ngayon nagre-rescue pa tayo ng tao-- where are the areas that are now in the relief phase," he added.

Despite this instruction, Marcos said that rescue operations and aid distribution can still proceed simultaneously.

"Kung minsan sabay 'yan. That doesn't mean that it's not mutually exclusive. You can be in rescue phase and relief phase at the same time. So that's what we need to know so that all the agencies know where to send our people, where to send our trucks, where to send our relief goods, where to send financial assistance," he said.

During the same briefing, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. reported that the following localities are considered hard hit areas as of 6:00 a.m. today:

• Abucay, Bataan
• Baliwag, Bulacan
• Obando, Bulacan
• Plaridel, Bulacan
• Pulilan, Bulacan
• Sta. Maria, Bulacan
• Cainta, Rizal
• Taytay, Rizal
• San Mateo, Rizal
• Morong, Rizal
• Rodriguez, Rizal
• Angono, Rizal
• Tingloy, Batangas

Hard-hit local government units are identified based on little to no access to relief goods, widespread damages, high number of displacement, and lack of non-food items.

As of 5:00 a.m. today, Abalos also reported to the President a total of 36,319 families or 149,006 individuals have been evacuated in Regions I, II, III, IV-A, IV-B,  Cordillera Administrative Region, and NCR.

According to Abalos, most of the evacuated residents in the National Capital Region (NCR) were recorded in Quezon City with around 22,000.

The Metro Manila Council earlier placed the National Capital Region (NCR) under state of calamity due to massive flooding.

Meanwhile, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian reported that 360,000 food packs are either being deployed or picked up by the LGUs.

An additional 100,000 food packs were requested by LGUs last night.

The effects of Carina and Habagat continued to be felt on Wednesday as livelihoods, homes, and transportation were disrupted in different parts of the country.

Floods, swollen rivers, landslides, and soil erosion, among others, were reported in different areas.

Typhoon Carina has left the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Thursday morning. PAGASA, however, said that it will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon that will bring moderate to intense rains over the western section of Luzon.  —VAL, GMA Integrated News