Malabon City Mayor Jeannie Sandoval assured city residents that the programs and response plans against flooding are in place to ensure their safety amid the continuous flooding in the city caused by southwest monsoon rains enhanced by Typhoon Carina and the high tide.
Sandoval announced the suspension of classes in all levels in the city on Tuesday, July 23.
The class suspension, she said, aims to ensure the safety of all the students and residents during the flooding.
The repair of the Malabon-Navotas navigational gate is still ongoing, she added.
"Para masigurong ligtas ang mga kabataan sa epekto ng malakas na ulan at sa pagpapatuloy ng pagsasaayos ng nasirang Malabon-Navotas River Navigational Gate, atin pong minabuting kanselahin ang klase. Lalo na ngayong inaaasahang may pagbabaha na dulot ng high tide at ng pagkasira ng navigational gate sa Navotas River (To ensure the safety of the youth from the effects of heavy rain and the ongoing repairs of the damaged Malabon-Navotas River Navigational Gate, we have decided to cancel classes. This is especially important now as flooding is expected due to the high tide and the damage to the navigational gate in Navotas River),” Sandoval said.
“Asahan po ninyo ang patuloy nating pagbabantay sa pagsasaayos nito para sa kaligtasan ng mga Malabueño laban sa baha. Handa po ang ating pamahalaan sa mga kagamitan para sa mga operasyon tuwing may bagyo o pag-uulan (Rest assured that we will continue to monitor the repairs to ensure the safety of the Malabueños against flooding. Our government is equipped and prepared for operations during storms or heavy rains),” she added.
Meanwhile, the Malabon Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) warned that southwest monsoon rains, intensified by Tropical Storm Carina, could result in heavy rainfall of 50 to 100 mm on July 22 and 23.
The city government said the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) forecasted a high tide of 2.0 meters around 11:05 a.m. on Monday and Tuesday.
In preparation, the MDRRMO has declared a "blue alert" for the local government’s response cluster, which includes the City Engineering Department (CED), the City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD), and the Public Safety and Traffic Management Office (PSTMO).
Several offices such as the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), City Health Department (CHD), Malabon City Police Station (MCPS), and Malabon City Fire Station (MCFS) were also added to the response cluster.
This is to ensure the continuous monitoring and prompt emergency response during heavy rains.
According to the city government, the response cluster will monitor all 42 barangays and key areas around the clock.
It added that the Command and Communication Center will manage operations, with 18 rescue boats, early warning systems, flood monitors, and other equipment ready for deployment.
The City Engineering Department is performing sandbagging on river walls and maintaining pumping stations and flood gates. It has cleared 375 sacks of waste from Barangays Tañong and Dampalit waterways to help reduce flooding.
Additionally, the City Public Safety and Traffic Management Office has deployed two tow trucks to assist stranded passengers.
The city mayor also urged residents to avoid removing sandbags placed by the city personnel as they are crucial for flood prevention.
“Patuloy rin po ang ating pagbabantay sa nasirang navigational gate. Asahan po ninyo na hindi kami titigil sa pagmomonitor at pagpapaabot ng tulong sa pamilyang apektado ng baha (We will also continue to monitor the damaged navigational gate. You can expect that we will not stop our efforts in monitoring and providing assistance to families affected by the flooding),” she said.
“Huwag po kayong mag-alala dahil hindi po tumitigil ang ating lokal na pamahalaan katuwang ang Navotas City LGU at MMDA upang masolusyunan agad ang suliraning ito (Don't worry, as our local government, along with the Navotas City LGU and MMDA, is working tirelessly to address this issue promptly),” the mayor added.
Sandoval advised the public to coordinate with the city government through the Malabon Command Center (8-921-6009 / 8-921-6029/0942-372-9891 / 0919-062-5588) or TXTMJS (225687 o 09178898657).