QC mayor releases P1 M for Milenyo clearing effort

In the aftermath of Typhoon "Milenyo," Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. ordered yesterday the release of P1 million as contingency fund to speed up clearing and rehabilitation efforts.

Receiving the bulk of the amount will be the Department of Public Order and Safety and the Enviromental Protection and Waste Management Department, which have been primarily mobilized to oversee the clearing operations.

Areas to be given priority are garbage collection and cutting of trees that fell during the height of the typhoon, particularly those that obstruct traffic along main roads and thoroughfares.

The mayor already ordered the purchase of four additional chainsaws to speed up the clearing of roadways of debris.

DPOS chief Manuel Sabalza reported that as of 7 a.m. yesterday, all main roads in the city have been cleared of fallen trees, including Quezon Avenue, Commonwealth Avenue, Tandang Sora Avenue and the New Manila Area.

No report of massive floodings was reported in Quezon City during the height of Typhoon Milenyo, Sabalza said.

Meanwhile, the city government also called for the deployment of additional garbage trucks for the collection of debris left by Milenyo.

City streetsweepers have also been mobilized to go overtime to speed up the clearing operation.

City administrator Paquito Ochoa Jr. described the release of the P1 million contingency fund as necessary in effectively responding to the various concerns of city residents during calamities and emergency situations.

About 152 families were affected by the typhoon in Quezon City.

Among the affected barangays were Damayang Lagi, Doña Imelda, Masambong, Talayan, Roxas District, Central, Libis and Baesa.

On orders of Belmonte, affected families were evacuated to safer ground and were provided food assistance by the city’s social services development department, under Teresa Mariano.

Meanwhile, the SSDD reported the death of one Nelda Tinedo, in Barangay Sto. Domingo due to electrocution.

Barangay officials have been called to report incidents of fallen trees along waterways to facilitate immediate clearing operations.