Manila, Malabon declare state of calamity

The local governments of Manila and Malabon placed their cities under a state of calamity on Friday following the impact of the rains brought by the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) enhanced by Typhoon Carina.

“Resolved, the City Council of Manila to declare, as it hereby declares the City of Manila under the state of calamity due to typhoon ‘Carina’ and to allow the release of the calamity funds for humanitarian support and disaster relief,” read the Manila government's Resolution no. 494.

The resolution stated that Carina and the Monsoon brought chest-deep floods that affected several streets in Manila such as Finance Road, Nakpil, Kalaw, and Padre Faura along Taft Avenue, United Nations Avenue, Ayala and España Boulevard.

“The flooding caused by the said weather condition [also] displaced numerous families from different barangays of the City of Manila thereby disturbing their daily lives and affecting their means of livelihood. Thus, necessitating the need for the City Government of Manila to provide immediate assistance,” the Resolution added.

Meanwhile, Malabon Mayor Jeannie Sandoval announced that the City of Malabon had also been placed under a state of calamity.

In a post on Facebook, she said that the intense floods and damage brought by the enhanced Habagat prompted the decision.

“Nais din po nating ipaalam na patuloy ang ating koordinasyon sa iba't ibang ahensya ng gobyerno upang masigurong maibibigay ang kinakailangang tulong at serbisyo sa lalong madaling panahon,” Sandoval said.

(We also want to inform the public that we continue to coordinate with different agencies of the government to ensure that we can provide the necessary aid and services at the soonest possible time)

Earlier, the Metro Manila Council (MCC) declared that the National Capital Region was under a state of calamity due to the massive floods in different parts of Metro Manila.

“Base na rin sa reports ng mga kapwa nating mayor sa Metro Manila, talagang halos lahat po talaga ng lungsod sa Metro Manila, ganoon din po ang Bayan ng Pateros ay apektado nitong bagyong ito. Kaya minabuti na po ng MMC na mag-declare state of calamity dito sa buong Kamaynilaan,” said said MMC President and San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora.

(Based on the reports of our fellow mayors in Metro Manila, almost all the cities in Metro Manila, as well as the town of Pateros, were affected by this typhoon. So, the MMC has decided to declare a state of calamity in the entire Metro Manila.) — DVM, GMA Integrated News