The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said it will send rubber boats to Tuguegarao City in Cagayan Province for the much-needed help in rescue operations conducted amid massive flooding caused by rains brought about by Typhoon “Ulysses” and further aggravated by the release of water from Magat Dam in neighboring Isabela.
“Coast Guard personnel are now working to load and transport rubber boats to Tuguegarao,” Admiral George Ursabia, Coast Guard commandant, said Saturday dawn.
"We will also haul Jet A1 from Manila to Tuguegarao to send stocks," Ursabia added.
He added that search and rescue operations started Friday dawn in the provinces of Cagayan and Isabela which were heavily affected by the opening of spill gates of Magat Dam to release waters a day after Ulysses left the country.
The discharging of waters resulted in massive flooding in the provinces and caused Cagayan River to reach its critical level. Floods in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan's capital, submerged houses and low-lying communities since Friday morning.
"Upang makatugon sa mas malawak na pangangailangan ng lalawigan, sinimulan na rin ng PCG ang pagpapadala ng karagdagan pang mga kagamitan at tauhan sa Isabela at Cagayan (In order to augment the need of the provinces, the PCG started sending additional personnel to Isabela and Cagayan)," Ursabia said.
As of 12:30 a.m. Saturday, November 14, the Coast Guard District North Eastern Luzon was able to rescue 276 individuals from flooded communities in the provinces.
Rescue operations continue, Ursabia added.
As of 11 p.m., Friday, Magat Dam was spilling waters through its four gates. Water level of the Cagayan River in the vicinity of Buntun Bridge in Tuguegarao City already reached 13.3 meters as of Friday, which is classified as "very critical" level.