Cainta, Rizal Mayor Keith Nieto is offering a P300,000 reward after one of the municipality’s pumping stations was robbed amid the expected onslaught of Super Typhoon Uwan.

Nieto said the robbery occurred on Saturday night, Nov. 8, at the pumping station in Park Place, Barangay San Isidro, Cainta, Rizal, as the municipality was carrying out preparations against the approaching typhoon.

The mayor expressed anger over the incident, saying the robbers cut the steel matting, removed all the copper, and severed all the wires, causing significant damage to the pumping station.

He is offering personal funds as a reward to anyone who can provide information leading to the arrest of those responsible.

“Nakakagalit… P300,000 reward, personal kong pera, sa makapagtuturo ng gumawa nito… ‘di ko ‘to palalagpasin (It’s enraging… I am offering a P300,000 reward from my personal funds for anyone who can point out who did this… I will not let this pass),” the mayor said. 

After learning about the incident, Nieto immediately called an installer, aiming to have repairs done as soon as possible.

The mayor also ordered 24-hour security to be installed at all other pumping stations in the municipality to prevent similar incidents.

Meanwhile, as part of typhoon preparations, the mayor also announced early preemptive evacuations in several barangays to ensure the safety of residents amid the approaching storm. 

As of Sunday morning, Nieto reported that several families have already taken shelter at the following evacuation centers while it is still safe to evacuate:

•Kabisig Auditorium: 7 families (30 individuals)

•Planters: 102 families (446 individuals)

He added that preemptive evacuation is also underway in the Balai Community, led by officials from Barangay Sto. Niño, as the area is near a large river in Barangay San Isidro. 

Some residents have already been temporarily moved to the Teachers Village Evacuation Center.