More than 15,000 people have been preemptively evacuated in Metro Manila amid heavy flooding brought about by the enhanced southwest monsoon (habagat), the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said Saturday.
Damage to agriculture stood at P12.38 million in Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and Western Visayas, with some 885 farmers affected.
NDRRMC spokesman Mark Timbal said in Marikina City alone, some 3,077 families or 13,225 persons were brought to evacuation centers.
In the municipalities of Rodriguez, San Mateo, and Taytay in Rizal province, at least 1,700 individuals had to leave their homes while more than 300 were evacuated in Cainta.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority reported massive flooding in at least 14 cities in the National Capital Region, with breast-deep waters in Barangay San Isidro in Parañaque City. Residents of Taguig City also suffered from the waist-high flood in Barangays Maharlika and West Bicutan.
MMDA chairman Benjamin Abalos said the high volume of garbage in the metropolis compounded the problem.
“It will be a never-ending cycle. People throw garbage, then we conduct cleanup operations. It’s time we break the cycle. Let us exercise discipline in managing our trash properly,” said Abalos.
In Pampanga, widespread flooding affected more than 26,000 individuals, local disaster-control officials said.
“Our rescue personnel and equipment are on standby alert 24/7 ready to respond in any given situation,” said Angelino Blanco, head of the Provincial Risk Reduction and Management Office.
Some 1,000 police personnel have also been deployed across Cordillera, Central Luzon and Mimaropa to assist in relief operations.