Marikina City Mayor Maan Teodoro on Wednesday, Aug. 12, vowed to strengthen the city’s partnership with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) for more effective and responsive flood-mitigation efforts to ensure the safety of residents during calamities.

Teodoro made the statement as she thanked the MMDA and chairperson Atty. Don Artes for immediately responding to the city’s request for assistance in deploying large mobile booster pumps to help clear floodwaters in Barangays Malanday and Tumana during the recent flooding brought by the southwest monsoon (habagat).

The request was made after the pumping stations in the area failed to operate during the heavy rains.

“Maraming salamat kay Chairman Don Artes at sa buong MMDA team para sa kanilang mabilis at maagap na pagtugon (Many thanks to Chairman Don Artes and the entire MMDA team for their quick and prompt response),” she said.

The mayor said the booster pumps helped quickly drain floodwaters from affected areas in Tumana and Malanday into the Marikina River.

“Malaking tulong ang agarang deployment ng booster pumps para mapahupa ang baha at makabalik sa normal ang ating mga komunidad (The immediate deployment of the booster pumps greatly helped ease flooding and helped our communities return to normal),” she stated.

Teodoro said closer coordination with the MMDA would help the city respond more effectively to flooding and ensure the safety of residents.

“Flood mitigation requires constant coordination and collective action. Patuloy tayong makikipagtulungan sa MMDA at iba pang ahensya para mas mabilis tayong makatugon at mas maprotektahan ang mga taga-Marikina (We will continue working with the MMDA and other agencies to respond faster and better protect Marikina residents),” she emphasized.

Meanwhile, the local government said it continues to monitor flood-prone areas and coordinate with national agencies to ensure the proper operation of pumping stations, drainage systems, and other flood-control facilities.