The local government of Malabon City distributed food packs, vitamins, medicines, and hygiene kits to the residents who were affected by floods in Barangay Hulong Duhat and Barangay Flores on Monday and Tuesday, June 24 and 25.
Malabon City Mayor Jeannie Sandoval, together with the city’s Social Service and Welfare Department (CSWD), led the distribution to the 150 affected families.
The city government provided the food packs, including five kilograms of rice, coffee, and canned goods.
Additionally, hygiene kits such as toothbrush and toothpaste, towels, sanitary pads, soap, shampoo, and conditioner were also provided.
Meanwhile, around 58 residents received medical assistance such as dental care, medicines and vitamins, and consultation services.
Sandoval assured the residents that they will continue to receive assistance while the navigational gate is under repair.
“Habang isinasaayos ng MMDA ang nasirang navigational gate, atin pong sisiguruhin ang tulong para sa mga apektadong pamilya sa mga barangay na binabaha lalo na pag may high tifde. Hinding hindi ho kayo pababayaan ng pamahalaang lungsod kaya sana po ay makipagtulungan tayo at sumunod sa mga instructions ng ating mga departmento una para po sa inyong kaligtasan (While the MMDA is repairing the damaged navigational gate, we will ensure assistance for the affected families in the barangays experiencing flooding, especially during high tide. Rest assured, the city government will not abandon you, so please cooperate and follow the instructions from our departments, primarily for your safety),” she said.
During a press conference with Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Acting Chairman Don Artes and Navotas City Mayor John Rey Tiangco, they discussed the plans of the local and national government agencies to address the flooding issue and the immediate repair of the navigational gate.
Sandoval emphasized the need for a long-term solution to the Malabon-Navotas River navigational gate malfunction, which has caused significant flooding in various barangays.
“Hindi lang naman din ang short term solution ang hinahanap natin. Gusto rin po natin na magkaroon na ng long term solution dahil pagka lagi ho nangyayari ito at nagkakaroon ng damage ay magtutuloy-tuloy na ang pagbabaha sa amin… pero sa ngayon, ang aming nais po ay magkaroon ng dagliang solusyon dito sa mga nangyayari sa amin na pagbabaha (We are not only looking for short-term solutions. We also want to have a long-term solution because if this keeps happening and there is continuous damage, the flooding will persist. For now, what we need is an immediate solution to the flooding we are experiencing),” she said.
“Ayaw na po naming manumbalik yung mga mapapait na nakaraan na lagi po kaming sikat diyan sa pagbabaha. Matagal na po kaming maayos, ngayon na naman po ulit nangyari ito. So, itong pagpupulong na ito, sana ay magkaroon ng dagliang solusyon, at the same time, mapagplanuhan na rin po ang long term solution (We don't want to return to those bitter times when we were always known for flooding. We have been stable for a long time, and now it's happening again. So, in this meeting, we hope to find an immediate solution and, at the same time, plan for a long-term solution),” Sandoval added.
The mayor also highlighted that the flooding has disrupted the daily lives of residents in barangays Dampalit, Hulong Duhat, Flores, Tañong, and Concepcion.
Furthermore, the city government launched its flood mitigation measures after the navigational gate malfunctioned on Sunday, June 23.
It added that they already placed 1,840 sandbags at river walls in various barangays; it also activated equipment and pumping stations to keep the water level rising.
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