Marikina placed under state of calamity

MANILA, Philippines — To fast-track relief efforts for affected residents, Marikina Mayor Marcelino Teodoro yesterday placed the city, which is one of the worst hit by Typhoon Ulysses, under a state of calamity.

The decision, he said, could also hasten the rehabilitation of the city as well as allow the local government to impose a price freeze on basic commodities.

“I have declared a state of calamity for the city of Marikina to allow the government to effectively address the needs of our constituents,” he said in Filipino over CNN Philippines.

With the declaration, city residents could access emergency and calamity loans from government financial institutions such as the Social Security System and Pag-IBIG Fund.

Marikina was severely affected by the typhoon with over 40,000 houses submerged in floodwaters on Thursday.

Teodoro said they are concentrating on clearing roads of mud and debris to bring a sense of normalcy on the physical conditions in their community, as well as easing the burden of the affected residents.

He called on the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to provide work for people who lost their jobs during the pandemic.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año also defended Teodoro from critics yesterday, saying the local chief executive did not commit lapses in the preparations for Typhoon Ulysses.

For him, Teodoro and other local chief executives should even be commended for leading search and rescue operations when the typhoon flooded many areas in Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon last Thursday.

He added that Teodoro inspected and supervised relief efforts in Marikina, wading in flooded areas to reach constituents.

But Teodoro himself admitted lapses on the part of the local government as residents in several areas were trapped in their homes after Ulysses inundated these with floods.

“I admit our lapses in these circumstances and we would never be able to pride ourselves for this,” Teodoro said.

The secretary advised Teodoro though not to blame himself for what happened, given the typhoon’s intensity.

“Mayor Teodoro did his best but it’s the wrath of nature and you can only do so much,” Año said, noting that the typhoon poured rains late Wednesday evening until early dawn Thursday, when most people were asleep.

Marikina has so far registered only one fatality because of the typhoon which, Año said, is also commendable. If not for the LGUs’ preparedness, he added, the death toll could have been higher.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Danilo Lim said he has already directed some units – like the Metro Parkways Clearing Group, Road Emergency Group and Public Safety Division – to deploy personnel to help in the road clearing and trash collection efforts.

The city governments of Makati, Muntinlupa and Navotas also sent personnel and rescue equipment to help in Marikina’s disaster response efforts.            – With Ghio Ong

Navotas City Mayor Tobias Tiangco also sent 20 rescuers, two boats, an amphibian, a utility truck and a pickup trick to help in the operations.

Teodoro earlier appealed for help from the national government and nearby LGUs to help in rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts.

Meanwhile, Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto asked for patience from residents as some areas continue to be without electricity. The Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), he said, is just being cautious of accidents that might lead to injuries.

There are no reported deaths in Pasig related to the typhoon, according to the city’s disaster risk and management office. – Ghio Ong