One of the MMDA pumping stations located in Binondo, Manila.
Metro Manila 71 pumping stations fully operational – MMDA
THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) yesterday said all its 71 pumping stations in the capital region are fully operational in anticipation of the onslaught of Super Typhoon Pepito (international name: Man-Yi).
“Unang una po sinisigurado ng ating MMDA Chairman (Don Artes) na ang 71 pumping stations are in full operational condition at ‘yun naman pong nasira na navigational gate ay naayos na rin po,” said MMDA Public Safety Division officer-in-charge Director Crisanto Saruca Jr. during a media briefing at the Presidential Communications Office-Office of Civil Defense.
He said Metro Manila mayors were advised to clear their areas of trash to prevent clogging while the Department of Public Works and Highways was instructed to secure billboards and prepare construction equipment.
He said the MMDA has activated its Emergency Operations Centers and deployed manpower and rescue and retrieval assets to strategic locations for emergencies.
“Ready na rin ang ating Public Safety Division personnel and other units as well as ating rescue and retrieval assets. Naka position na po dito sa MMDA at magdedeploy na tayo kung kinakailangan po (Our Public Safety Division personnel and other units are ready as well as our rescue and retrieval assets. We are already in position and we will deploy personnel if necessary),” he said.
Saruca said the MMDA is focused on areas prone to flooding, particularly in the Camanava (Caloocan-Malabon-Navotas-Valenzuela), Marikina, EDSA, Quezon Avenue and Maria Clara areas.
Super Typhoon Pepito is battering majority of Luzon and parts of Visayas, with the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration warning of a “potentially catastrophic and life-threatening” impact as huge waves pounded the archipelago’s coastline.
Pepito is the third tropical storm to hit the country in the past week.
So far, a total of 238,982 families have been affected by the spate of typhoons, according to the latest tally of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
As of 11 a.m. Sunday, the powerful typhoon was last tracked 120 kilometers east southeast of Baler, Aurora, packing maximum sustained winds of 185 km. per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 230 kph.
Moving northwest at 20 kph, Pepito is forecast to make landfall in the vicinity of Aurora in the afternoon.
It will then cross the northern portion of Central Luzon and the southern portion of Northern Luzon via the upland regions of the Sierra Madre, Caraballo, and Cordillera Central between Sunday afternoon and evening.
Meanwhile, the Malabon Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) placed the city under a “red alert” status to enable the full activation of disaster and emergency response plans, equipment, and coordination measures for the safety of the Malabueños.
MDRRMO said that the red alert status ensures rescue equipment, city government personnel, the Command and Communication Center, boats and rescue vehicles will be mobilized to effectively execute emergency response plans amid thunderstorms.
“Ngayong nasa ilalim na ng Tropical Cyclone Signal No. 2 ang Metro Manila, makasisiguro ang mga Malabueño na tayo ay nakapaghanda para sa malakas na pag-uulan at sa posibleng pagbabaha na dulot ng bagyong Pepito,” Malabon City Mayor Jeannie Sandoval said.
As of 4 a.m. yesterday, a total of 13 evacuation sites including the Catmon Evacuation Center, C4 Isolation Facility, and schools, were opened to serve as temporary shelters for residents. By Philippine News Agency with reports from Edd Reyes
