Marikina LGU tells locals to evacuate as river water reaches critical level

Maintenance personnel from the Marikina DRRMO-Rescue check the facilities along the Marikina River. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / JAM STA ROSA

The local government of Marikina told residents living near the riverside to evacuate as the water level at the Sto. Niño monitoring site reached the 17 meter mark as of 12:20 p.m. on Saturday.

With this development, the second-level alert has been raised by the Marikina local government. Once the water level reaches the third alarm, or equivalent to 18 meters, the Marikina government will conduct forced evacuation of the affected residents.

“Alarm level number 2 na tayo, pero kagabi pa ay nagpre-emptive evacuation na tayo, kagabi meron na tayong apat na daan [400] na higit na indibidwal na nasa evacuation centers,” Marikina Mayor Marcelino Teodoro said in an interview with Radyo Inquirer on Saturday.

“Wala pa namang flooded area […] Pwersahan (ang evacuation), inaasahan natin kung ito’y tataas pa ng mga dalawang metro, at umabot sa 18 meters, meron tayong low-lying communities na (forced evacuation),” he added.

River water in Marikina rose significantly as rainwaters from the mountains of Rizal, like Antipolo and San Mateo, continue to cascade down the metro.

However, Teodoro said that the rise of water is slower compared before when the southwest monsoon brought rains to the city in July and August of this year.

Instead, their main problem has been strong winds brought by typhoon “Ompong.”

“Hindi katulad ng nakaraang habagat dahil ang volume ng rainfall ay hindi naman ganon ka-lakas.  Hangin ang problema natin, napaka-lakas no’ng hangin, at maraming mga sanga ng hangin ang napuputol, kaya pinag-iingat natin ‘yong mga mamamayan,” he said.

“Kung matibay naman ang inyong bahay at nasa ligtas na lugar, ‘wag na kayong lumabas.  Kung light material naman at sa tingin niyo ay hindi lubos ang kaligtasan niyo sa inyong tahanan, mabuti ay mag pre-emptive evacuation tayo,” he added, pleading to residents of Marikina to heed the directives from the local government.

Teodoro also reminded his constituents that in case of emergency, people may call hotline 161.

“161, Pwedeng tawagan, for any emergency, at may five-minute response time tayo na pamantayan,” he noted. /jpv