MMDA to deploy rescue equipment in Bicol

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is set to deploy rescue equipment in areas affected by Tropical Storm Kristine on Wednesday. 

The MMDA said that they will be coordinating with the Office of the Civil Defense at the Department of Social Welfare and Development regarding the deployment of boats, water purifiers, chainsaws, dump trucks, and ambulances.

“Ang mga kagamitang ito ay nakahanda para sa NCR at dahil sa may mga mas nangangailangan ay ipadadala ito sa nasabing mga lugar gaya ng sa Bicol region,” the statement read.

(These equipment have been prepared for NCR, and since there are people who need it more, it will be sent to affected areas like the Bicol region.)

MMDA said this is in line with President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos directive, as he vowed to provide assets, particularly rubber boats, for the rescue and response measures in the Bicol Region.

Most areas in Northern Luzon have been placed under Signal no. 2, with a landfall scenario possible by Wednesday night over the province of Isabela.

As of Wednesday afternoon, DSWD said that 112,437 families or 457,489 individuals have already been affected by Kristine in over 815 barangays from Regions 2, MIMAROPA, 5, 6, 8,12 and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM)

—Jiselle Anne Casucian/ VAL, GMA Integrated News