Camanava braces for more floods

MANILA, Philippines - Local government units in Camanava (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, and Valenzuela) area have replenished their relief supplies and rescue equipment in anticipation of massive flooding as tropical depression “Helen” intensified into a storm yesterday.

Luz de Guzman of the Malabon City social welfare office said that although classes in the city have resumed, they have restocked food supplies and placed their rescue teams on alert.

Floods triggered by continuous monsoon rains submerged Malabon last week.

In Navotas, public information officer Jane Banayad said the city government in coordination with the local social welfare office have stocked up relief supplies for families displaced by floods.

As of yesterday, Banayad said at least 100 families whose houses were swept away by seawaters remained at an evacuation center in San Rafael Village in Barangay North Bay Boulevard South.

Anha Mejia, Valenzuela City public information officer, said 23 families are still taking shelter at an evacuation center in Barangay Polo.

“We have advised village officials to build their own rescue boats to augment that of the city government so when the need arises we have enough to use to rescue flood affected individuals,” Mejia said.

She said the local social welfare department has readied packed foods and relief goods.

In Caloocan, Mayor Enrico Echiverri instructed the city’s rescue personnel to be on standby as he directed the local social welfare office to prepare food and relief supplies.

The Camanava area was placed under a state of calamity last week due to floods caused by torrential rains.