Quezon City evacuates 100 families as La Mesa Dam on red alert

MANILA—Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista over the weekend said that he already alerted barangay officials along Tullahan River, from Fairview to the boundary of Bagbag and Baesa to be prepared for possible evacuation since last night as heavy rains continues because of Habagat.

“We are on red alert and lahat ng barangay ito, 143 barangays, yung kanilang Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Team,” Bautista said.

He said as of Friday evening, about 100 families have been evacuated from their homes to barangay halls and other evacuation centers.

Most of these families came from areas in the 1st District of Quezon City, they are barangays along the San Francisco River — Masambong and Damayan — and Doña Imelda in the 4th District.

This after officials of La Mesa Dam alerted residents in Quezon City and in Valenzuela, Malabon and Nabotas along Tullahan River were asked to evacuate as red alert was raised Saturday noon.

La Mesa plant manager Teddy Angeles, in a separate interview, said water elevation at the dam has reached 79.62 meters, just 53 centimeters below the overflow level. The overflow level of La Mesa Dam is at 80.15 meters.

“We strongly recommend evacuation,” Angeles said.

The mayor also advised residents along areas with ongoing infrastructure and drainage repair projects such as Tomas Morato Avenue, Quezon Boulevard, and Mother Ignacia Street to stay indoors.

“Mag-ingat ingat po tayo. Kung wala naman ring dahilan na lumabas e ‘wag na ho tayong lumabas, mas maganda yung safe tayo sa ating mga bahay,” Bautista pointed out.

PAGASA raised the orange warning level and warned that flooding “is still threatening” Navotas, Valenzuela, Quezon City.

The same warning was issued to provinces near the National Capital Region (NCR) including Zambales, Pampanga and Bulacan.

Further, PAGASA said the rest of NCR and the provinces of Rizal, Nueva Ecija, Bataan and Tarlac was placed on yellow warning level and warned against “flooding in low-lying areas.”