Residents walk under an uprooted tree next to an overturned vehicle (behind) and debris in a residential area in Marikina City, suburban Manila, on November 13, 2020, a day after Typhoon Ulysses (international name: Vamco) hit the capital area bringing heavy rains and flooding. (Photo by Ted ALJIBE / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) deployed on Friday a composite team to help in the clearing of areas in Marikina City that were left devastated by Typhoon Ulysses.
In a statement on Friday, MMDA Chairman Danilo Lim instructed personnel from the agency’s Metro Parkways Clearing Group, Road Emergency Group, and Public Safety Division to assist the local government of Marikina City in its ongoing clearing and rehabilitation efforts.
“We have dispatched our men in severely-damaged areas in Marikina City to remove debris, clear obstructions, and collect household waste in coordination with the city’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office,” said Lim.
The MMDA sent dump trucks, self-loaders, backhoes, and other heavy equipment needed in removing road obstructions to Marikina City.
“Our men are equipped with clearing tools to haul garbage and thick mud from the affected areas,” said Lim.
Lim, concurrent Chairman of the Metro Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MMDRRMC) also instructed MMDA personnel to clear debris from all affected roads in Metro Manila.
Based on the monitoring done by the MMDA’s Metro Manila Crisis Monitoring and Management Center of the flood situation in Metro Manila, all major thoroughfares that were underwater on Thursday are now passable.
At the height of Ulysses, MMDA personnel assisted in the rescue and evacuation of affected individuals, assisted in crowd control, and managed traffic flow in the affected cities in the metro.
Ambulances, rubber boats, truck-mounted cranes, backhoes, water pumps, rescue equipment were also dispatched, the MMDA said.
Lim also asked several Metro local government units to extend assistance to Marikina and other cities that have been severely hit by the typhoon. Miggy Dumlao, trainee