MMDA sends response team to provinces hit by 'Lando'

MANILA, Philippines - The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Monday deployed a 45-man rescue and recovery team to areas in northern Luzon which have been affected by Typhoon Lando (international name Koppu).

MMDA officer-in-charge Emerson Carlos said the deployed personnel are composed of three teams each having 15 members from the MMDA Rescue Unit and MMDA Public Safety and Roadway Clearing Operations Group.

The teams were sent to the typhoon-hit provinces of Nueva Ecija, Isabela and Cagayan, Carlos said.

Carlos said the MMDA will also be deploying a similar team to Aurora but the roads and highways in the province have become inaccessible due to flashfloods.  

“Unfortunately, the road networks in the area are still not passable to vehicles,” Carlos said.

Carlos said the MMDA, just like in previous calamities, has been deploying teams to assist local government units in the clearing and rescue efforts in their respective areas.

Carlos said it is fortunate that Metro Manila did not bear the brunt of storm Lando that left at least two persons dead and affected over 20,000 people in its wake.