MMDA, NCRPO ready for ‘Glenda’

MANILA, Philippines - The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) are ready to face Typhoon Glenda, which is expected to slam into the metropolis today, officials said yesterday. 

MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino has also suspended “number coding” for vehicles at 2 p.m. yesterday to allow people to go home early. He also suspended the scheme today.

He said rescue teams are also ready to be deployed in the metropolis’ 22 identified flood-prone areas.

During a meeting of the Metro Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council last Monday, it was agreed that two local government units (LGUs) would lend members of their rescue teams per watch to help the MMDRRMC monitor flood conditions from the MMDA’s Metro Base.

The first watch was taken by the cities of Marikina and Pasay.

“The LGUs will serve as assistant operations officers in monitoring the situation for them to internalize the concept of interoperability of each LGUs rescue team,” Tolentino said.

The MMDA also earlier ordered that billboard tarpaulins be rolled down in anticipation of the strong winds brought by the typhoon. According to the state weather bureau, Glenda is packing winds as strong as those brought in 2006 by Typhoon Milenyo, which toppled trees and demolished billboards across Metro Manila.

‘Don’t leave MM’

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Carmelo Valmoria, on the other hand, coordinated with bus terminals to prevent their fleet from leaving for trips to the provinces of Bicol, Cagayan and Ilocos as they would cross Glenda’s path.

“We are appealing to Metro Manilans not to travel as they might get stranded in the path of Glenda. They must store drinking water and foodstuff and stay at home for their safety,” he said in an interview.

The NCRPO has also distributed boats and trucks to its five police districts, but noted that LGUs also have their own boats.

“We are ready for any eventuality. Our search and rescue personnel are in the forefront of our preparations for the coming typhoon,” Valmoria said.

He has also ordered the NCRPO’s five district directors and 38 station commanders to coordinate with their respective LGUs and the MMDA for a “synchronized” response during rescue and evacuation operations.

“We will only move in close coordination with the MMDA and LGUs to minimize the deployment of our fully trained rescue personnel,” Valmoria said.

LGUs evacuate residents, prepare shelters

Quezon City and Marikina have made preparations to ensure the safety of residents as Glenda rips through the country.

Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista directed barangay operations chief Jorge Felipe to relocate families out of danger areas and asked the health centers to have medical teams and supplies on standby.

The Marikina City government, meanwhile, identified at least 17 public elementary schools and 15 public high schools as evacuation centers should the city be flooded.

The city health office has eight medical teams, each with four personnel, ready for deployment to the evacuation center. The city government has also allocated various types of medicine, multivitamins and oral rehydration solutions to each evacuation center. – With Janvic Mateo, Reinir Padua