Following the announcement that Marikina City was already flood-free on Tuesday, Aug. 11, Mayor Maan Teodoro went door-to-door to distribute vitamins and anti-leptospirosis medicine to residents affected by flooding brought by the southwest monsoon (habagat).

Teodoro was accompanied by doctors and other City Health Office personnel, who distributed medicines to residents in Libis Bulelak, Barangay Malanday.

The initiative was intended to protect the health and safety of residents, particularly those who had waded through the floodwaters.

The mayor said that all families who sought temporary shelter in the city's 29 evacuation centers have returned to their homes as soon as the floods subsided.

As of 3 p.m. on Tuesday, the water level of the Marikina River was at 13.9 meters, within the normal range, after reaching the second alarm in recent days due to continued rains.

With this, Teodoro said the entire city of Marikina is now flood-free.

"Ang buong Marikina po ngayon ay flood-free na. Lahat po ng mga kalsada sa ating lungsod ay passable na po (The entire city of Marikina is now flood-free. All roads in the city are now passable),” she said.

Clearing operations have also begun in affected communities, as well as in schools that were used as evacuation centers.

The mayor underscored the city government's continued monitoring of the weather as rains persist and the threat of possible flooding remains in the city.

"Patuloy naman ang local government unit ng Marikina sa pag-monitor ng sitwasyon at pagsasagawa ng mga kinakailangang clearing operations sa mga apektadong lugar (The local government continues to monitor the situation and conduct necessary clearing operations in affected areas)," she said.

She noted that most of the city did not experience flooding, with some low-lying areas and communities near the riverside reporting only minor flooding despite days of continuous rain and the Marikina River reaching 17.5 meters, triggering the second alarm of the city’s early warning system.

According to her, their year-round dredging and declogging operations have contributed greatly to reducing flooding in the city and protecting families and communities.

"Makikita natin ang naging malaking tulong ng ating regular dredging ng Marikina River, declogging ng mga drainage at paglinis ng mga creek (We can see the significant impact of our regular dredging of the Marikina River, declogging of drainage systems, and cleaning of creeks),” she said.

“Patunay ito sa effectivity ng ating flood mitigation infrastructure, early warning system, at pagtutulungan ng both local government and the citizens (This proves the effectiveness of our flood mitigation infrastructure, early warning system, and the cooperation between the local government and residents),” she added.

The local government said it has been conducting dredging operations along the Marikina River for years as part of its long-term flood mitigation and disaster preparedness efforts.

“The city has invested in specialized equipment, including amphibious excavators, to sustain dredging and river maintenance activities. Last June, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) turned over a new amphibious dredger to the local government to boost this initiative,” it said.

Teodoro said the city is using the dredger provided by the DPWH alongside its existing dredger to speed up the deepening and widening of the Marikina River. She said this would increase the river’s water-carrying capacity and better prepare the city for the rainy season.

“While no flood mitigation program can completely eliminate the risks posed by extreme weather events, Marikina remains focused on enhancing resilience, protecting lives and properties, and ensuring communities are prepared,” the local government stated.

Despite the local government’s efforts to manage flooding and other climate-related risks, the mayor urged residents to remain vigilant during emergencies and continue cooperating with local authorities.