Members of the Makati City Water Search and Rescue (WASAR) Team under the Makati Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) were deployed to other flood-stricken cities in Metro Manila during the onslaught of Typhoon Carina and the enhanced Habagat on Wednesday, July 24.
(Photos from Makati LGU)
Makati City Mayor Abby Binay immediately deployed quick response teams to critical areas in Caloocan, Malabon, and Quezon City at the height of the typhoon.
"On the orders of the mayor, the Makati Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office dispatched the Makati Water Search and Rescue Team composed of 15 SAR personnel to the said cities, together with an array of rescue equipment and support resources. These included 25 basic life support (BLS) ambulances, 12 rescue vehicles, and 10 rescue boats," the city government said Friday, July 26.
"The Makati WASAR Team was able to rescue numerous individuals in flooded areas, including five medical doctors and a mother with a newborn infant," it added.
The Metro Manila Council (MMC) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) had earlier placed Metro Manila under a State of Calamity due to the adverse effects of the weather systems that left thousands of residents in the National Capital Region (NCR) staying in evacuation centers of their respective cities.
"Nagdeclare na po tayo ng State of Calamity para sa kabuuan ng Metro Manila bunsod ng epekto ng bagyong Carina na hanggang ngayon ay nagdudulot ng pagbaha sa iba't ibang lugar sa Metro Manila at ganun din sa ibang rehiyon (We have declared a State of Calamity in the whole Metro Manila due to the effects of Typhoon Carina that is still causing widespread flooding in different area of Metro Manila and other regions)," MMC President and San Juan City Mayor Zamora said.
The declaration allows the affected local government units (LGUs) to gain access to additional funds for calamity response and imposes a price freeze on basic goods.