Robredo visits Marikina, hears kids’ woes on flood-damaged modules, lost slippers

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo paid a visit to Marikina residents who evacuated to the Nangka Elementary School after Typhoon Ulysses brought massive flooding to the city and nearby areas.

According to the Office of the Vice President (OVP), Robredo was accompanied by Marikina lawmaker Rep. Stella Quimbo.  During their visit, the team also distributed hot meals, drinking waters, sleeping mattresses, face masks, and other toiletries used by babies and adults.

While checking on the evacuees, several children aired their grievances to the Vice President, like water-damaged modules and belongings follwing the floods — bringing a light moment amid the recent calamities.

“Masinsinang usapan sa Marikina,” Robredo said in her tweet.  “Ang daming gustong i-share ng mga bata—mula sa nabasang modules hanggang sa naiwang tsinelas sa bubong.”

Masinsinang usapan sa Marikina😊

(Ipinaalam po namin sa mga magulang na ipo-post namin itong video. Ang daming gustong i-share ng mga bata—mula sa nabasang modules hanggang sa naiwang tsinelas sa bubong.) pic.twitter.com/SABQy6lizT

— Leni Robredo (@lenirobredo) November 13, 2020

The Marikina visit was Robredo’s second day of personally checking on the state of people distressed by Ulysses, which sliced through Quezon province and Central Luzon, but at the same time inundated low-lying areas in Metro Manila.

On Thursday, after Ulysses’ rain raised levels at the Marikina River to over 21.5 meters, OVP assured residents from Marikina and nearby towns of Rizal that Robredo herself and the rest of their team were working to rescue people.

Ulysses packed maximum sustained winds of 155 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 255 kph at its peak. [ac]