Marikina River still at normal level; LGU assures 24-hour monitoring as Pepito nears

MANILA, Philippines — Water levels at the Marikina River is at the normal range, the city government said on Tuesday afternoon as it assured residents that they would constantly monitor weather situations concerning Tropical Storm Pepito.

According to Marikina’s rescue team, the water level is still at 13 meters, still two meters away from its first alarm.  Meanwhile, rainfall data in various areas within and near Marikina, including rainwater moving from Rizal province’s mountains, was 39 millimeters.

Despite the still relatively low water levels, Marikina Mayor Marcelino Teodoro assured that the local government is ready to respond to Pepito’s possible effects.

“Tinitiyak ni Mayor Marcy Teodoro na nakahanda ang Pamahalaang Lungsod ng Marikina sa bagyong Pepito,” Marikina’s Public Information Office (PIO) said in a statement posted on its Facebook page.

(Mayor Marcy Teodoro is assuring residents that the local government is prepared for Tropical Storm Pepito.)

“Kabilang sa mga nakahanda sa tungkulin ay ang mga kawani na nakatalaga sa 24-hour monitoring ng Marikina River, deployment ng mga rescue boats kung sakaling tumaas ang water level, pagbabantay at pag-uulat ng rainfall count, mga kawani na mamamahala sa mga evacuation center o camps sakaling kailanganin ang pre-emptive evacuation, mga naka-duty na medical personnel sa mga evacuation center, at marami pang iba,” Marikina PIO added.

(Among the preparations done was to place on standby officers involved in the monitoring of Marikina River, deployment of rescue boats in case water levels rise, monitoring rainfall count, management of evacuation centers or camps in case pre-emptive evacuation is needed, deployment of medical personnel, and many more.)

https://www.facebook.com/MarikinaPIO/posts/4125685177445753?__cft__[0]=AZV1fHWsOiuQjLo4aSbUwYrWEASRig_wRjbtPhe4gLtTdHHiGF_20mJVIPjv5LC6CyN3mmjIi35E4iYbKy_-4Ojtk6f1Jnxtiv_PyDYl4jXe_sslW7SKMlSlLSzVCqAQfGe6AocnRS7x4oyQEaxEIayF0ZGnsQXrHHRlMybLjZKdXpKB-lK_6ErF6IlkFIWOO18&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R

Earlier, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that Pepito slightly intensified, now packing maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour (km/h) near the center and gustiness of up to 90 km/h.

While it is not expected to directly move over Metro Manila — as it will make landfall over Aurora between 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. — cloud bands brought by Pepito will cause rains and winds in the National Capital Region.

Metro Manila is currently under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1.

As of Pagasa’s 4:00 p.m. update, Pepito was last spotted 110 kilometers east of Baler, Aurora, moving 30 kilometers per hour on a west-northwestward pattern. [ac]