MMDA winds down clearing, rescue operations

MANILA, Philippines - The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is winding down its clearing and rescue operations in the wake of the monsoon rains that pounded the metropolis, an official said yesterday.

MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino said that compared to the monsoon or “habagat” last year, people will take a longer time to recover from this monsoon, which he said was characterized by “intermittent” rainfall.

“We are not just talking about the physical recovery but also about the psychological recovery as people try to get back to their normal activities,” he told reporters.

According to Tolentino, only parts of Muntinlupa and the Camanava (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela) remain flooded as of yesterday.

Tolentino said the MMDA is still conducting rescue operations in some parts of southern Metro Manila.

Meanwhile, Tolentino is advising those in evacuation centers to stay put until the floodwaters have completely subsided.

“They are still safer in evacuation centers. It’s easier to check their health condition,” he said.

Flooded streets

At around noon yesterday, Dagat-Dagatan Avenue – which cuts through Caloocan, Malabon and Navotas – was impassable to light vehicles while C-3 and C-4 Roads were only accessible to heavy vehicles.

In Caloocan City, the Northern Police District headquarters and all its patrol cars were still in two feet of water.

McArthur Highway, from Barangays Dalandanan to Malanday in Valenzuela, is still under three feet of water.

The streets in Barangays Arkong Bato, Pulo, Balangkas, Coloong and Isla in Valenzuela were still inaccessible to all types of vehicles and residents have been using makeshift boats to get around.

In Malabon, residents of Barangays Panghulo, Maysilo, Tenejeros and Dampalit have been using boats since there were no available public utility vehicles.

R. Papa street, which straddles the boundaries of Caloocan and Manila, was still in three feet of water as of yesterday.

San Juan barangay flood-free

San Juan Vice Mayor Francis Zamora said Barangay Balong Bato, which was seriously affected by floods brought by Typhoon Ondoy in 2009, was spared this year because of the first pumping station set up in the area by the city government.

“It appeared that the pumping station… has been very effective. It was the first time that Barangay Balong Bato was spared from flooding. We will also set up pumping stations in the nine barangays that are flood-prone,” he said.

Diversion

The MMDA also asked the Intramuros Administration (IA), which runs the Club Intramuros Golf Course, not to discharge excess water from the course to P. Burgos and Victoria streets, which contributes greatly to the flooding of the Lagusnilad underpass in front of the Manila city hall.

MMDA assistant general manager for operations Emerson Carlos, in a letter to IA administrator Marco Antonio Sardillo III, asked that the discharge of water be diverted to another area.

Tolentino said the excess water from the golf course should be redirected to flow toward Manila Bay instead.

– With Rey Galupo, Jose Rodel Clapano