Marcos to gov’t agencies: Coordinate properly amid Carina onslaught

Rescuers paddle their boats along a flooded street in Manila on July 24, 2024 amid heavy rains brought by Typhoon Gaemi. Relentless rain drenched the northern Philippines on July 24, triggering flooding in Manila and landslides in mountainous regions as Typhoon Gaemi intensified the seasonal monsoon. (Photo by Ted ALJIBE / AFP)

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday directed local government units and concerned agencies to coordinate in evacuating people affected by Typhoon Carina and the southwest monsoon.

He also ordered the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to continue providing aid to those affected by the typhoon and the southwest monsoon.

“We will also ensure proper coordination before releasing water from dams to protect people from downstream impacts,” Marcos’ Facebook post read.

Situation at Magdalena in Balagtas, Bulacan as of 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 24, with floods caused by heavy rains brought by Typhoon Carina and the southwest monsoon. (Photo from Sandra Bataller/Contributed)

READ: LIVE UPDATES: Typhoon Carina

Marcos made the pronouncement after a briefing with the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) on the effects of the two weather systems affecting the country.

The President also said he was satisfied with the overall response of government agencies.

The Presidential Communications Office said the DSWD has so far recorded 45,328 affected families in 225 barangays in Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, National Capital Region, and Cordillera Administrative Region.

Marcos earlier said the government has prepositioned PP2.88 billion worth of aid and around 4,500 personnel on standby for search, rescue, and retrieval operations.