Residents beg, clamor for aid in Kristine-hit Camarines Sur

Several residents clamored for aid and ended up begging in the streets in some areas in Camarines Sur following the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine, John Consulta reported Sunday on 24 Oras Weekend.

In Nabua, Camarines Sur, residents struggled to receive relief goods and bread as both children and the elderly raised their hands in the hopes of receiving aid from a private truck.

Whenever there was an incoming vehicle with food, residents ran toward it.

Due to the flood in some areas of Baao and Nabua, some residents built makeshift houses on the side of the highway while others begged passing vehicles for aid.

“Humingi po ng kaunting donation. Nakalikom po ako kahit papaano ng pang-donate,” said Honey Delapaz, who distributed aid.

(They asked for a little donation. I somehow managed to raise some money to donate.)

Elsewhere, resident Charito Saminiano pointed to a hole in their hut that her husband made during the storm.

“Yun binutas ng asawa ko para makalabas kami dyan baka nalunod na kami dyan. Kailangan po namin ng pagkain talaga,” she said

(My husband made a hole in our ceiling because we might drown if did not escape. We really need food.)

Several areas in Camarines Sur are still flooded so the relief goods were brought through a helicopter of the Philippine National Police air unit.

Authorities brought aid to isolated barangays of Buhi, Camaligan, Milaor, Baao, Bula, Nad Nabua.

The police also distributed clean water to some areas in Albay and Camarines Sur.

“Kahit walang pagkain basta may water magsusurvive ang tao. Ininilipat naman na natin yung truck sa iba naman sa mas may mangangailangan,” said Police Brigadier General Andre Dizon, Police Regional 5 director.

(Even if there is no food, as long as there is water, people will survive. We are moving the truck to others who need it more.)

The relief goods of GMA Kapuso Foundation were also air-lifted to isolated areas in Bula, Camarines Sur, and Libon, Albay through the chopper of the Philippine Air Force and Malacañang.

Food was distributed to affected residents in Minabalac, Camarines Sur and Tuguegarao, Cagayan.

Stranded in Naga

In Naga City, several travelers have been stranded for days due to the flooding.  

“Ang hirap, walang CR, wala kaming budget na!” Claudia Bermejo said.

(It’s difficult, no restrooms and we're out of money.)

“Since nung Friday po stranded na kami but in this bridge pa two days na po kami so napakahirap po talaga,” Terry Moreno said.

(We have been stranded since Friday but on this bridge, we’re stranded for two days. It’s really difficult.)

The only vehicles that could pass through the flooded road from Naga City to Milaor were heavy trucks.

“Alternate po, so we are giving chance na galing Manila and vice versa meron din na vehicles na 50 going Metro Manila,” said Police Colonel Erwin Rebellion, Naga City director.

(There are vehicles from Manila and 50 other vehicles going to Manila.)

Some students from Tagkawayan, Quezon that were trapped in Naga were picked up by the municipality’s local government unit.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and the Bureau of Fire Protection put up an onsite water purification and distributed drinking water to the affected residents.

In Camaligan, one person drowned, according to the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

The flood has subsided in 13 barangays but some areas have shoulder-deep floods. — Mariel Celine Serquiña/BM, GMA Integrated News