NCR placed under state of calamity amid massive floods

A state of calamity has been declared in the National Capital Region in light of the impact of the massive flooding caused by the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat and Typhoon Carina on Wednesday.

The Metro Manila Council (MCC) made the decision following a meeting presided by Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos.

“There is a motion to declare Metro Manila in state of calamity by Mayor Francis Zamora and Chairman Don, seconded by Mayor Lani Cayetano, the motion is hereby approved. Metro Manila is now in a state of calamity,”  Abalos said.

Abalos presided over a meeting with the Metro Manila mayors, where MMC president and San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora moved to declare the state of calamity in the region.

It was supported by Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) head Romando Artes and Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano.

The MMC made the decision after 12 of the 17 local government units voted for the state of calamity declaration. The other five LGUs were not able to participate in the meeting.

Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB, Zamora said the mayors decided to declare the state of calamity considering the impact of the inclement weather in their areas.

“Ang PAGASA na mismo nagsabi na posibleng hanggang bukas ay ganito pa rin ang ating weather conditions,'' Zamora said.

(PAGASA said that it is possible that our weather conditions will still be like this until tomorrow.)

“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,” he added.

(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, are affected by this typhoon. So the MMC has decided to declare a state of calamity in the entire Metro Manila.)

According to Zamora, the most affected areas in the region are Marikina and the Camanava area.

The declaration of a state of calamity enables the local government to access emergency funds swiftly and implement relief operations to aid the displaced residents.

With the declaration of a state of calamity, Zamora said LGUs are now allowed to fully use their Quick Response Fund. Without it, only 70% of the fund is allowed to be spent.

Many Metro Manila roads were submerged in flood Wednesday morning as the effects of the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat and Typhoon Carina hit some parts of the country.

“Kami ay nag meeting ng mga mayors ng Metro Manila… at ni-review namin ang developments na nangyari sa kalakhang Manila at nagkaisa ang mga alkalde na talagang i-declare na state of calamity ang Metro Manila,” Abalos said in an interview on GMA Integrated News Bulletin.

(We held a meeting and we reviewed the developments that happened in Manila and the mayors unanimously declared a state of calamity.)

According to Mariz Umali’s ''24 Oras'' report on Wednesday, Quezon City has the highest number of evacuees in the capital region, with 22,000 evacuees and 142 affected barangays. 

Abalos said that Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro; Kabacan, Cotabato; Pikit, Cotabato; Butuan, Davao de Occidental, and several others have also declared a state of calamity.

Up to mayors

Earlier, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr said the decision to declare a state of calamity in Metro Manila cities will rest upon its local chief executives.

In an ambush interview after a situation briefing on Typhoon Carina, Marcos explained that the national government will only come in if there are three regions that are affected by the calamity.

"No," Marcos said when asked if he is the one who will declare the state of calamity in Metro Manila.

"Usually, ang state of calamity is the LGU (local government unit) executive.'Pag regional, it's because nagkasabay-sabay. Pagka three regions ang involved then already the national has to come in. That's a national calamity already wala na kaming choice doon, pasok na ang national," he said.

"But it's up to the local communities to decide because they know best. They know best what they need. 'Yung pagdeklara ng state of calamity, it is also to access funds para makapag-access din sila ng funds kasi nauubos na 'yung kanilang emergency na reserve eh kukuha sila sa national. So that's what we're working on now," the President added.

According to Abalos, Marcos directed local officials to immediately pinpoint geographically isolated areas.

He said the president also cautioned against the release of water from dams.

“Kasi syempre malakas na yung ulan mo, mag re-release pa yung dams ng tubig… pina-coordinate ko para masabihan ang gobernador, ang mga mayors, ang kapitan… na kung mag re-release sila malayo pa lang masabihan na,” he said.

(It’s already raining hard and then you’ll release water from the dams… I coordinated so that the governors will be told, the mayors, and the captains… that if they will release water, it should be announced in advance.)

He also appealed to the public to immediately evacuate when asked.

“Kung sabihin ng mga awtoridad na lumikas, lumikas po tayo. Dahil ito ay safety nang hindi lamang ng ating mga sarili kung hindi ng mga anak at ng mga bata, no, para mailipat kayo sa mga evacuation center,” Abalos said.

(If authorities tell you to evacuate, please evacuate. Because this is not only for your own safety but also the safety of your children, so you will be moved to evacuation centers.)

Work, classes suspended

Due to the inclement weather, Malacañang has suspended government work and classes in Metro Manila for the day.

Many areas outside Metro Manila also suspended classes for Wednesday due to the bad weather.

Aside from work and class suspensions, several flights were also canceled.

The MMDA, meanwhile, suspended the expanded number-coding scheme and allowed buses, regardless of route, to use EDSA for faster mobility due to the flooded areas in Metro Manila. —with Joahna Lei Casilao and Vince Angelo Ferreras/VAL/RSJ/VBL, GMA Integrated News