MANDALUYONG CITY -- As Severe Tropical Storm Paeng (international name: Nalgae) battered the country with heavy rains on Saturday, October 29, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) deployed its emergency response units and water search and rescue teams to rescue people trapped or stranded by the storm. At least 279 people were rescued from rapidly rising floodwaters in Aklan, Batangas, Catanduanes, Cavite, Cotabato City, Laguna, and the National Capital Region.

Among those rescued were patients of San Juan District Hospital in San Juan, Batangas, which was breached with waist-deep floodwater. The Red Cross emergency responders used rescue boats, 6 x 6 trucks, Humvees, and an amphibian.

As of 6:00 am of October 30, PRC has reached at least 24 cities and provinces with humanitarian aid: Aklan, Aurora, Bataan, Batangas, Bohol, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Cotabato City, Iligan, Kalinga, Laguna, Maguindanao, Manila City, Marikina City, Marinduque, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Northern Samar, Quezon City, Romblon, San Pablo City, Sorsogon, and Western Samar.

PRC has also served 1,908 hot meals in evacuation centers and ports and other transport terminals. It also set up Welfare Desks and gave psychological first aid to adults and children.

It has also distributed shelter strengthening kits, helped clear roads of fallen trees and other debris, and provided hygiene promotion lecture-demonstration. (Philippine Red Cross)