A total of 123 families or 481 individuals were evacuated from six barangays in Muntinlupa due to floods as heavy rains poured overnight brought about by tropical storm Enteng and the southwest monsoon (habagat).
Mayor Ruffy Biazon held an emergency meeting with different city government offices involved in disaster response.
“Nakahanda ang city government na rumesponde sa mga kababayan nating nangangailangan ng tulong (The city government is ready to respond to our residents who need help),” Biazon posted on Facebook.
Mayor Ruffy Biazon (right) with Cupang Barangay Captain Chairperson Luvi Constantino (Photo from Barangay Captain Luvi Constantino)
Personnel hauling garbage, debris and wood from the Tunasan River at the boundary of Muntinlupa and San Pedro, Laguna on Sept. 2 (Photo from the Muntinlupa City government)
The National Road in Barangay Tunasan, Muntinlupa is flooded (Photo from Tunasan Barangay Captain Dave Arcilla)
Evacuation in Muntinlupa 2 (Photo from the Muntinlupa City government)
According to the Muntinlupa Social Services Department (SSD), 123 families were evacuated. The city government will provide them with relief assistance.
Of the 123, 65 families or 255 individuals are staying at Bayanan covered court in Barangay Bayanan.
In Barangay Tunasan, 27 families (84 individuals) are at the Villa Carolina 1 Subdivision pavilion. A retaining wall in the subdivision collapsed that caused flooding.
A family is staying at the pavilion on Arandia Street in Tunasan while 13 families (58 individuals) are now at Victorial Homes Tunasan JRF covered court after a landslide occurred.
In Barangay Alabang, two families (nine individuals) are staying at Alabang Elementary School.
In addition, five families (16 individuals) were evacuated in Barangay Cupang, and five families (26 individuals) were also rescued in Barangay Poblacion. Five families (24 individuals) were evacuated in Barangay Putatan.
Biazon said according to the Muntinlupa City Department of Disaster Resilience and Management, the effects of Enteng will be felt until Sept. 3 based on the weather forecast.
The Muntinlupa Engineering Department started clearing waterways that were clogged with debris, trash and wood like the Tunasan River. It will also coordinate with the management of the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) to discuss how to remedy the flow of water from the higher part of the expressway that goes to Muntinlupa.
According to the Environmental Sanitation Center, it conducted clearing operations on different roads in the city.
Personnel from the police, City Security Office, Muntinlupa Traffic Management Bureau and Public Order and Safety Office (POSO) are activated to help to the manpower needed in disaster response.
Health centers in Muntinlupa are open to those who need medical attention, the mayor said. The Ospital ng Muntinlupa’s emergency department is also open while the outpatient department is closed.
“Dahil sa malakas na ulan at pagdaloy ng tubig galing sa matataas na lugar (tulad ng Cavite), nagkaroon ng pagtaas ng tubig sa rivers natin, at ito ang naging sanhi ng pagbaha sa lungsod (Because of the heavy rains and flow of water from higher places [like Cavite], there is an increase in water level in our rivers and this caused flooding in the city),” said Biazon.
Muntinlupa Mayor Ruffy Biazon leading a meeting with city government offices on Sept. 2 (Photo from the Muntinlupa City government)