THE bustling town of Calasiao, Pangasinan remains flooded on July 24. (Liezle Basa-Inigo)
CALASIAO, Pangasinan – Search and rescue operations continue in this town swamped by floods from the southwest monsoon and tropical cyclones.
Police Col. Arbel C. Mercullo, officer-in-charge of the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office, deployed lawmen to assist in evacuation, rescue stranded residents, and provide on-ground security support, particularly in low-lying and high-risk areas.
Lawmen are supported by local government units and emergency response teams.
Police urged the public to stay vigilant, follow official advisories, and immediately report any emergencies to the nearest police station or emergency hotline 911.
Rescue operations are ongoing in other parts of the province.
Meanwhile, communities affected by the severe weather in Pangasinan and La Union provinces are receiving assistance through the government's rescue and relief operations, officials said Thursday.
In a forum hosted by the Philippine Information Agency 1 (Ilocos region), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-1 Regional Director Marie Angela Gopalan said 12,260 family food packs have been deployed in Pangasinan.
In La Union, 4,514 food and non-food items have been delivered to local government units, she added.
Gopalan also said the DSWD mobile kitchen will serve hot meals to evacuees in Pangasinan.
"Serving hot meals to displaced individuals remain a challenge since evacuation centers are usually far and have no kitchen for cooking. The mobile kitchen is literally where meals are prepared and cooked," she said in Filipino. (With PNA)