Over 400 barangays in Metro Manila at risk of flooding —MMDA

Over 400 barangays in Metro Manila are at risk of floods due to the expected combined effects of the Habagat and Typhoon Betty (international name: Mawar), according to data from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

A recent report released by the MMDA shows that 423 barangays in Metro Manila are at risk of floods: 124 in Caloocan City, 110 in Quezon City, 109 in Manila City, 32 in Valenzuela City, 14 in Malabon City, 13 in Navotas City, and one in Pasig City.

This comes as data from PAGASA and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) show that 50-millimeter rains are expected in the next 24 hours.

“Medyo malakas lakas na pag-ulan ‘yan, pero scattered naman ‘yan within the 24-hour period. Hindi naman biglaan, pero marami pa rin siya… may possibility na malubog sila or bahain,” MMDA Chairman Romando Artes said in a report by Joseph Morong on GMA’s “24 Oras Weekend” on Sunday.

“Ito pong bagyo na ‘to, kahit lumihis at hindi mag-landfall sa atin, ay hihigop ng hanging habagat na magdudulot talaga ng pag-ulan at pagbaha,” he added.

(The rains will be quite strong, but this will be scattered within the 24-hour period. It will not be sudden, but it will still be a lot… There is a possibility that they would be submerged or flooded.

This typhoon, even if it veers away or does not make landfall in the country, will pull the bagat wind which will really cause rains and floods.)

Typhoon Betty entered the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) early Saturday morning, and has since decelerated to have maximum sustained winds of 165 kilometers per hour near the center. A dozen areas are currently under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal 1.

For its part, the Metro Manila Council President and San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora said local government units are prepared, with rescue equipment already prepositioned in case of floods.

The Office of Civil Defense has also prepared non-food items, with some P244-million quick response funds (QRF) on standby should it be needed. The Armed Forces has also deployed some 12,000 search and rescue personnel. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/BM, GMA Integrated News