MANILA -  President Arroyo on Friday opened up her Mansion House in Baguio City and the "Malacañang in the North" in Paoay, Ilocos Norte as relief centers for areas affected by tropical depression "Pepeng" (international codename Parma) in northern Luzon.

Vice President Noli de Castro also opened the Vice-President's cottage in Baguio City at the disposal of the City Disaster Coordinating Council.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said Mrs. Arroyo also ordered Philippine Military Academy cadets to help in the rescue and relief operations in Benguet.

The President earlier ordered Malacañang Palace opened up to accommodate relief goods to be distributed to victims of tropical storm Ondoy (international codename Ketsana) last month.

The press secretary said the United States is helping out in the rescue efforts by sending a naval vessel, which is now anchored in Lingayen with at least two Chinook helicopters

“The National Disaster Coordinating Council has requested the US embassy to authorize the redeployment of US military forces to Northern Luzon to join the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) which is hard at work in the area conducting disaster response operations and extending humanitarian assistance,” he said in a Malacañang statement.

Remonde said the Philippine Navy has dispatched five teams to Pangasinan and Nueva Ecija.

He said each team is composed of one officer and 15 enlisted men, a rubber boat with outboard motor for rescue and relief operations and a truck equipped with chainsaws, assorted tools as well as first aid kids.

“Other AFP and PNP units have been prepositioned in vulnerable areas of Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Zambales, La Union, Benguet, Batanes and Tuguegarao. These personnel rushed to their assignments equipped with boats and trucks to save lives and later to bring relief assistance,” Remonde said.

Remonde said the President also directed DSWD Secretary Esperanza Cabral and PMS Secretary Hermogenes Esperon to Pangasinan to initially distribute P15.2M worth of assorted relief supplies.

He said the DSWD has on standby P95 million worth of commodities that may be drawn at moment's notice and P11.5 million in additional funds to purchase emergency relief supplies.

“Presidential Management Staff director general Hermogenes Esperon Jr. flew to Balungao in Pangasinan which is suffering the most with an initial 4,000 packs of relief goods,” Remonde said.