Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano’s Emergency Response Team continued relief operations across Rizal, Cavite, and Parañaque on Monday as flooding forced thousands of residents to remain in evacuation centers and prompted Rodriguez town in Rizal to declare a state of calamity.
The team provided hot meals and drinking water to affected residents and evacuees, as well as rescuers, volunteers, and local personnel involved in ongoing emergency and clearing operations.
In Rizal, the team reached Taytay, Tanay, and Rodriguez where several communities remained affected by days of heavy rains and flooding.
In Rodriguez, six barangays were affected by the overflow of the Montalban River, prompting the municipality to declare a state of calamity Monday afternoon.
Two people were reported dead and several others injured following a rockslide in Barangay Wawa.
Mayor Ronnie Evangelista thanked Cayetano for his continued support and sought additional assistance for evacuees, particularly rice and other essential supplies.
In Taytay, 11 evacuation centers remain active, sheltering around 700 families or 2,730 individuals.
The team also conducted relief operations in Bacoor City, General Trias, Tanza, and Naic in Cavite.
Most evacuees in General Trias have already returned home, while a significant number of residents in Bacoor, particularly those from coastal communities, remained in evacuation centers.
In Parañaque, the team returned to Barangay San Isidro after their visit on Sunday to assist responders and rescuers conducting clearing operations.
Barangay Chairman Noel Japlos reported that heavy rains had brought a large volume of garbage and other debris to a portion of the reclaimed area near the LRT Redemptorist-Aseana Station, forcing responders to repeatedly conduct clearing operations.
Amid the continuing rains, Cayetano has renewed his push for the passage of Senate Bill No. 105, or the proposed Emergency Response Department (ERD) Act, which seeks to establish a dedicated government department for disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.
The August 10 relief drive followed the team’s operations in Parañaque, Cavite, and Las Piñas on Sunday as Cayetano’s Emergency Response Team continued its assistance to communities affected by flooding.
