Binay presides over Makati DRRM council meeting

Makati Mayor JunJun Binay (PNA photo)

MANILA — Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin S. Binay on Wednesday convened the Makati Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC), which he chairs, and presided over an emergency meeting in preparation for the Tropical Depression Betty moving towards the direction of Casiguran, Aurora.

Binay said although the forecast storm path may be far from Metro Manila, it was necessary for preparations to be made for any eventuality, in observance of established DRRM protocol.

Members of the MDRRMC, consisting of the heads of city offices and national government agencies, attended the meeting.

In answer to questions from the media about Makati having two mayors, Binay pointed out that the MDRRMC members who were present apparently still recognized him as the city mayor and supported his administration. “We are here to work, trabaho lang,” Binay said.

Binay assured Makati’s constituents that he remains in office and will continue to discharge his functions as mayor, including the signing of official documents pertaining to transactions of the city government.

At the meeting, the concerned council members reported on relevant matters, including the available Php 1.90-billion calamity fund, preparations at the community level, prepositioning of equipment and vehicles and relief packages ready for distribution to 20,000 families. It was agreed that relief packages will be readied for deployment to victims in other local government units that will be affected by ‘Betty’ should it gain strength and inflict more damage.

The DILG-Makati reported that the city has always been keen on increasing its preparedness level for incoming typhoons, especially when these are expected to pass through Metro Manila or nearby regions.

MDRRMC is composed of the Urban Development Department, Department of Engineering and Public Works, Office of the City Administrator, DILG-Makati, Makati Social Welfare Department, Makati Health Department, DRRM Office, Department of Environmental Services, Veterinary Services Office, Ospital ng Makati, General Services Department, Information and Community Relations Department, Human Resource Development Office, Budget Department, Finance Department, Accounting Department, Liga ng mga Barangay, Department of Education-Makati, Bureau of Fire Protection-Makati, Philippine National Police-Makati, and Philippine Red Cross.

For her part, Councilor Marie Alethea S. Casal-Uy said that the city council continues to perform their duties despite the incident.

”Mandated po kami to legislate for the people of Makati and we will do that. Tuloy po ang trabaho namin. We stick with the rule of law. The court should be followed and sinabi ng CA na dapat yun na sundin. Yung TRO yun po ang sinusunod namin sa city council,” she said.