The Makati City Council recently approved an ordinance adopting the guidelines for the temporary closure of roads, bridges and other critical thoroughfares in case of floods or landslides caused by severe weather disturbances, upon the recommendation of the city Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
Mayor Abby Binay, DRRMC chairperson, said the passage of City Ordinance No. 2017-025 adopting the guidelines was just in time for the expected onset of the rainy season in June.
“The rainy season is at hand and we need to make sure adequate measures are in place to prevent or minimize the hazards and inconvenience it may pose to residents and other stakeholders, particularly in flood-prone and landslide-prone areas in the city,” Binay said.
The mayor also called on all concerned Makati DRRMC members to carry out their respective tasks and duties to ensure the smooth implementation of the guidelines when necessary.
Under the guidelines, the Makati DRRM Office through the Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment team shall recommend to the Office of the Mayor for the temporary closure of any area based on sufficient justification, with copy furnished to the Office of the City Administrator.
The recommendation must include a report on the nature of the incident; name of the road, bridge, or critical thoroughfare to be closed; its location; flood level, amount of rainfall, or extent of road damage; number of personnel needed for traffic control; and number of responders to be stationed.
Should the recommendation be justified, the mayor shall issue a temporary closure advisory which shall be communicated to the Department of Transportation and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board prior to its implementation. It shall be communicated to all concerned city DRRMC members and to the affected barangays as well.
For the identification of possible alternate routes, rerouting scheme, and traffic control concerns, the city DRRMO shall coordinate with the Makati Public Safety Department. It shall also coordinate with the Department of Engineering and Public Works for possible road clearing operations.
The posting or announcement of temporary closures shall be done by the city DRRMO, city Information and Community Relations Department and/or the city Urban Development Department through the official social media platforms of the city. These include the Makati Portal (official website), My Makati (Facebook), Makati Info (Twitter), and Makati DRRM (Facebook).
In implementing the guidelines for temporary road and bridge closures, the city DRRMC will refer to the flood and earthquake contingency plans of the city. It shall also pre-determine possible areas for closure using hazard maps and other available references.
Identified low-lying and flood-prone barangays in the city include Pio del Pilar, Bangkal, San Antonio, Magallanes, La Paz, Tejeros, San Isidro and Sta. Cruz in District 1. Also, being monitored are District 2 barangays, including Rizal, Pembo and Comembo.
Meanwhile, flood-prone areas installed with flood measuring device and CCTV for monitoring by Makati C3 include J. P. Rizal corner Carballo St., Xyris St., J. P. Rizal corner Lawton Avenue, Magallanes Cloverleaf, Hen. J. Cailes St. (near the creek), Dela Rosa St., Mayapis St., Pasong Tirad, and other streets near bodies of water (rivers and creeks).
Landslide-prone areas include C-5 and some of its connecting roads at the eastern portion of the city.
Weather disturbances affecting the city include Southwest Monsoon (Habagat), Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITZCs), Low Pressure Areas (LPAs), and tropical cyclones, among others. These cause floods and rain-induced landslides on critical thoroughfares which in turn result in accidents, damaged infrastructure and facilities and hampered economic activities, among others.
The new City Ordinance is sanctioned by RA 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991, particularly Section 21 (a) allowing a local government unit, through an ordinance, to permanently or temporarily close or open any local road, alley, park, or square falling within its jurisdiction, as well as Section (c) mandating the temporary closure of any national or local road, alley or park during an actual emergency.
It is also in compliance with the DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2016-38 enjoining LGUs to pass an ordinance governing the temporary closures of roads, bridges, and other critical thoroughfares within their jurisdictions in case of floods and rain-induced landslides.