Transportation Sec. Arthur Tugade has lauded Mayor Jaime Fresnedi and the city government’s preparedness and response to typhoon “Rolly,” which spared Metro Manila from its onslaught.
During a regular Zoom meeting by the local COVID-19 Response Team on November 3, Tugade, who is Muntinlupa’s “big brother” in the fight against the coronavirus disease, commended the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and barangay captains for preparing for the typhoon.
He also lauded the city government for coordinating with the Philippine Coast Guard as part of the typhoon “Rolly” plans. Muntinlupa has coastal areas along the Laguna Lake.
The Muntinlupa City government has recorded minimal damage from the typhoon. According to Erwin Alfonso, head of the Muntinlupa Department of Disaster Resilience and Management (DDRM), the incidents they recorded were fallen and uprooted trees in F. de Mesa compound in Barangay Putatan, and Itaas Elementary School and at the main gate of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Barangay Poblacion.
A post in Putatan also caught fire and a house in Barangay Sucat was also damaged by a fire. No casualties were reported from these incidents.
The local government through various departments prepared for the typhoon by sending hourly public advisory and weather updates through social media, implementing preemptive evacuation of families in coastal and flood-prone areas, and prepositioning of emergency response resources and equipment such as rescue boats, generators, emergency vehicles, and search and rescue equipment.
Fresnedi earlier convened the Local Disaster Risk Response and Management (LDRRM) for pre-disaster risk assessment.
About 2,021 families in high-risk areas were taken to different evacuation centers in barangays and were given relief goods. Most of the evacuees have returned to their homes.
As of 11 a.m. on November 3, Alfonso said, only 94 families, or 250 individuals, are staying in evacuation centers in Barangays Putatan, Bayanan, Alabang, Cupang, and Buli.