800 Marikina residents rescued from flood

MANILA, Philippines - More than 800 Marikina residents who lost their homes due to floods brought by typhoon “Ondoy” were rescued by police, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said yesterday.

PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa placed the entire Luzon police force on full alert to ensure that police personnel are available if the need arises.

PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Leonardo Espina said the police conducted relief, rescue and other disaster related operations in coordination with the local government unit (LGU) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

“Personnel in six rubber boats fielded by PNP-Special Action Force Saturday night at Provident Village, Marikina have so far rescued more than 800 persons as of this report and still continuing,” said Espina.

He noted that six-by-six trucks, rubber boats and amphibian trucks in the CAMANAVA area and other parts of the National Capital Region (NCR), Central Luzon (Region 3) and CALABARZON (Region 4A) continue to conduct rescue and relief operations.

The Philippine National Red Cross deployed 18 rubber boats and an aluminum boat, as well as 15 water search and rescue teams, to rescue families stranded areas in Marikina, Cainta, Manila, Quezon City and Mandaluyong that remain impassable due to floods.

Espina added that PNP is also assisting Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Health (DOH) and LGUs in the 92 evacuation centers in Metro Manila.

He said similar operations are also being undertaken in Regions 3 and 4A.

Espina noted that Highway Patrol Group (HPG) continues to manage traffic, in critical areas all PNP personnel and assets in these areas are fully mobilized.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, Espina said the PNP swung the rescue and relief operations from Marikina and nearby areas to Cainta, Rizal.

UERMMC emergency room flooded

Officials of the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center (UERMMMC) announced yesterday afternoon that they will no longer accept patients after floodwaters submerged the hospital’s emergency room Saturday.

In a radio interview, Dr. Andres Borromeo said strong currents damaged part of a fence along the San Juan River and destroyed the hospital facilities on the ground floor.

He said some of the patients who were well enough were sent home, while others were referred to other hospitals.

At around 2 p.m. Saturday, floodwaters near a mall in Sta. Mesa reached at least four feet deep, and many vehicles were submerged.

Armando Reyes of Kapiligan street said his two-story apartment was submerged in eight feet of water after the San Juan River extension overflowed. He said the supply of electricity and water have been cut off. 

NCRPO placed on red alert

The 15,000-strong National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) was placed on red alert yesterday as its five district directors were ordered to assist in rescue operations and maintain peace and order in evacuation centers.

NCRPO chief Director Roberto Rosales activated the regional disaster coordinating council (RDCC) as he directed his police commanders to coordinate with LGUs.

Rosales ordered the maximum deployment of policemen in the streets to unclog traffic at all major thoroughfares in Metro Manila.

“This is the time when the PNP should be seen and felt by our people. We are now on red alert,” Rosales said in a text message to The STAR.

The NCRPO and the LGUs has established at least 83 evacuation centers in Metro Manila housing at least 10,031 families.

The Southern Police District (SPD) has 31 evacuation centers for 2,920 families; Northern Police District (NPD) with 19 and 1,379 families; Quezon City Police District (QCPD) with 18 and 4,263 families; Eastern Police District (EPD) has 14 and 1,439 families and the NCRPO has one center for 30 families.

The NCRPO listed the areas of Provident Village in Marikina City; Araneta Avenue, Fairview and Novaliches in Quezon City, and the perennially flooded areas of Navotas and Malabon as the worst hit by Ondoy.

QC still checking flood damage

Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. personally visited yesterday flood-devastated areas in the city as the local disaster coordinating council began relief operations to affected families.

“We are still assessing the damage,” he told The STAR.

Belmonte earlier directed the use of public school building and other city government building as temporary evacuation centers for flood victims.

Belmonte was having a meeting with a civic group at the SM North EDSA when floodwaters rushed into the basement of the mall.

In Cubao, water also flooded the food court of Farmers Plaza, shutting down power at the mall.

The Quezon City rescue unit has been mobilized to assist resident at the height of the typhoon. However, because of the rapid rise of floodwaters, rescue units were not able to reach some of the affected areas.

100 Valenzuela residents saved

Valenzuela Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian led rescuers in saving more than 100 people trapped on the rooftop of their homes in Barangay Marulas Saturday night.

Another 2,000 evacuees were sheltered at several evacuation centers in the city and given relief goods, including mats and tents.

Gatchalian said volunteer worker Roy Calingacion, 29, was carried away by strong currents three kilometers downstream to the Meycauayan River while trying to rescue a family stranded for several hours in Barangay Veinte Reales Saturday night.

Calingacion, a trained swimmer and rescue worker, managed to swim to the riverbank. He rested for several hours before going back to work.

Gatchalian said the flood has given many people an opportunity to be heroes, whose personal sacrifice is an inspiration to their co-workers and the people they saved.

Officials said the floodwaters, which reached at least 10 feet deep in low-lying barangays, began to recede yesterday morning. – With Non Alquitran, Perseus Echeminada, Mayen Jaymalin, Jerry Botial