Marikina Mayor Marcelino “Marcy” Teodoro said the local government is closely coordinating with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) as part of the city’s preparations for Super Typhoon Mawar (local name: Betty).
In a radio interview on Friday, May 26, Teodoro said the PCG will supplement the local government’s emergency response teams.
“Dati, pag meron lamang kalamidad at mataas ang tubig o baha na, at saka lang sila naririto. Pero ngayon, pati sila naka preposition na (Before, the Coast Guard only comes to the city when the calamity hits, the water level of the river has risen, or areas of the city have flooded. Now, they are also prepositioned along with our local units),” he said.
The PCG, whose new local headquarters is based in Barangay Kalumpang, is monitoring the areas near the Marikina River, including Pasig City and Montalban, the mayor added.
Teodoro said he is glad that the PCG finally has a “formal presence, structurally and organizationally” in the city.
(Marikina PIO / MANILA BULLETIN)
On Thursday, May 25, the local government began prepositioning their personnel and deploying the equipment that will be needed, especially for evacuation and rescue, when the effects of Super Typhoon Betty hit the city.
Rescue boats have been strategically placed at Provident Village, Homeowners’ Drive in Barangay Sto. Nino, A. Santos Street in Barangay Tumana, and Bayabas Street in Barangay Nangka.
The local government, the PCG, the Marikina Police, and the local chapter of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), along with other emergency response personnel, have conducted interoperability sessions to duly prepare for the typhoon.
The mayor said he also inspected the pumping stations in Barangay Tumana to ensure they are operational.
The local government expressed hope that the Marikina River dredging activities can continue to prevent major flooding in the city, as it has done in the recent typhoon seasons, but Teodoro insisted on conducting extra precautions for the safety of the public.
(Marikina PIO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Siren Testing
On Friday morning, May 26, the Marikina City Rescue 161 or Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) conducted siren testing to ensure the operability of the alarms in case the water level rises in Marikina River.
When the water level hits 15, 16, or 18 meters, the alarms will blare in the areas near the river, particularly Barangays Tumana and Nangka, signaling the pre-emptive or forced evacuation protocols. Residents will be transferred to their barangays’ designated evacuation centers.
Class suspensions
The local government also suspended classes in all levels for public and private schools in the city from Friday, May 26 to Sunday, May 28, to safeguard students in anticipation of the typhoon.
Super Typhoon Mawar, which will be named Betty once it enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), is expected to make landfall on Friday evening to Saturday morning.