NCR under state of calamity due to massive floods, heavy rains

By Raymond Carl Dela Cruz, Philippine News Agency

THIGH-HIGH WATERS. Two residents wade through thigh-high floods in Palmera Homes in Novaliches, Quezon City on Wednesday (July 24, 2024). Some families living in the housing complex chose to stay behind as others evacuated to the nearby Corpus Christi Parish Church. (PNA photo by Joan Bondoc)

MANILA – The National Capital Region (NCR) was placed under a state of calamity on Wednesday due to the continuous heavy rains and massive flooding caused by the Typhoon Carina-enhanced southwest monsoon.

The Metro Manila Council (MMC) – consisting of the 17 mayors in the NCR and led by Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) acting chair Don Artes – agreed on the decision during a meeting at the MMDA headquarters in Pasig City.

Twelve mayors from the cities of Caloocan, Pasay, Pateros, Muntinlupa, Mandaluyong, Quezon, Makati, Navotas, Taguig, Pasig, Manila, and San Juan voted in favor of the decision.

The rest – those from Malabon, Marikina, Valenzuela, Las Piñas, and Parañaque – were unavailable due to the disaster.

“What is important right now is magkaroon tayo ng (we have) coordination… The motion is hereby approved that Metro Manila is now in a state of calamity,” Abalos said.

The declaration of a state of calamity will allow local government units (LGU) to access emergency funds that would enable the swift implementation of relief operations and the deployment of aid to affected residents.

In a radio interview over DZBB, San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora said the declaration would allow LGUs to fully use their quick response fund, without which they are limited to only 70 percent of the fund.

On Wednesday, Carina and the “habagat” dumped heavy to intense rainfall over Metro Manila and other areas of Luzon, resulting in widespread flooding.

As of 4:30 p.m., the MMDA reported gutter-deep to chest-high flooding in the cities of Mandaluyong, Manila, Marikina, Navotas, Quezon, Pasay, Taguig, Pasig, and Valenzuela City.