MANDALUYONG CITY -- Philippine Red Cross Water Search and Rescue (WASAR) team saves 176 individuals, including children and infants, as flash floods hit several barangays in Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental on Christmas day.

“We immediately deployed our 5-man WASAR team and other PRC assets and personnel. PRC will deploy its hot meals on wheels to the evacuation centers to provide hot, ready to eat food to the rescued families.” said PRC Chairman Dick Gordon.

The Philippine Red Cross is currently serving hot meals in the evacuation center at the Arthuro S. Lugod Gymnasium.

Several roads were also impassable such as Gingoog City National Road due to knee deep flood and the highway in Brgy. Lawit Balantian due to a pocket landslide.

“Our volunteers and staff on the ground are making sure that the PRC will always be an available lifeline for those in need, even during the holiday season,” Red Cross Secretary General Gwen Pang assured.

In a post, the former solon also commended the Red Cross personnel saying that “Christmas mornings always hold hope for us. Today was no different, yet paradoxically all the more meaningful. This proves that the PHILIPPINE RED CROSS IS ALWAYS FIRST, ALWAYS READY, ALWAYS THERE - whatever the occasion. I commend our Red Cross staff and volunteers who hastily responded, they sacrificed their time with family to make sure that those affected by the flooding can still be amongst theirs.”

Aside from the flood in Misamis Oriental, the PRC Iligan City Chapter is also on duty due to reports of rising water levels in many barangays. There are no reported evacuees as of the moment. (PRC)