The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has deployed a 50-man team that will assist in the road-road clearing and search and rescue operations in flood-hit areas of Bicol region.
Albay and Camarines Sur are considered as the worst-hit by widespread flooding on Tuesday, Oct. 22, and the teams from the MMDA— 30-man clearing team and 20-man search and rescue team will be deployed in the two provinces.
Right now, MMDA chairman Don Artes said they are closely monitoring the situation in the National Capital Region (NCR) and if Metro Manila will not be severely affected, he said the remaining teams will be deployed in Northern Luzon where tropical storm “Kristine” made a landfall.
Those deployed in Bicol, according to Artes, brought with them 40 solar-powered water filtration systems, one aluminum boat, two engine-operated rubber boats, 20 small fiberglass boats, 1000 life vests, six chainsaws, modular evacuation tents, and medicines for leptospirosis.
“The team will clear roads from debris that can impede mobility and accessibility while the search and rescue team will conduct water search and rescue for areas inundated by flood,” said Artes.
Food packs from institutional donors will also be distributed to affected individuals and are expected to arrive in the Bicol region by Friday morning, according to Artes.
He said the MMDA is likewise coordinating with the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) which will determine the exact areas where the agency’s contingent and resources will be dispatched.
“We are also preparing in the event that the NCR will be hit by the typhoon that’s why we decided to dispatch half of our assets to the Bicol region. The other half is ready to respond in case NCR will be hit by this weather disturbance,” said Artes.
“The MMDA has activated its emergency operations center and has conducted an inventory of assets of the local government units in Metro Manila. Some of them are already prepositioned, particularly in flood-prone areas,” he added.