MMDA deploys team to help residents in flooded areas in Samar

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority deploys a team composed of 40 personnel from its Public Safety Division and Road Emergency Group to northern and eastern Samar to help residents in flooded areas following heavy rains, shear line and low pressure area. Photo courtesy of MMDA

MANILA, Philippines — A team consisting of 40 personnel from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority’s (MMDA) Public Safety Division and Road Emergency Group was deployed on Thursday to northern and eastern Samar to help residents in flooded areas following two weather disturbances.

In a statement, the MMDA said that the personnel would be divided into two groups and tasked with conducting humanitarian and relief operations.

Photo courtesy of MMDA

READ: Flood-hit Eastern Samar declares state of calamity

Each group will also bring 30 units of solar-powered water purification systems that can filter 180 gallons of water per hour.

“With the lack of potable water supply in the area, our team’s main task is to set up water filtration systems in communities with limited to zero supply of clean water to drink,” MMDA Chairman Romando Artes said in the statement.

READ: Severe flooding hits Samar, Panay islands

Artes noted that one of the two groups can produce 21,600 liters of water per hour.

“This is in response to the directive of President Marcos to extend humanitarian assistance to our kababayans in Northern and Eastern Samar who have been severely affected by heavy flooding,” he added.

Both Northern and Eastern Samar were placed under a state of calamity due to flooding caused by heavy rains.

The rains were brought by the shear line, or convergence of cool and warm winds, and a low-pressure area east of Surigao City that already dissipated last November 20.