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MANILA, Philippines – All displaced families have left the evacuation sites in Manila, but relief operations for the victims continue, even for the thousands more who did not leave their houses during last week’s rainstorm, a Manila City Hall official said Monday.
Manila City Social Welfare and Development Office head Jay de la Fuente said the roughly 7,000 families brought to 35 classrooms and covered courts have gone back to their houses but are continuously being assisted by the local government to help them start anew.
“Our order from Mayor [Lim] is to continue to give help to flood victims,” he said, noting that 7,000 more affected individuals—those called “outside evacuees”—likewise need assistance from the city government.
“Many are still suffering. They are those trapped in neck-deep floods,” de la Fuente said.
Manila Police District spokesman Chief Inspector Erwin Margarejo earlier said that among the areas converted into evacuation sites were Antonio Villegas High School in Barrio Magsaysay, Tondo; the covered court in Barangay 105 in Happyland, Tondo; Gregorio del Pilar Elementary School in Jose Abad Santos near C. M. Recto; Bonifacio Elementary School; President Corazon Aquino High School in Baseco; Gregorio de Jesus School; Don Bosco Youth Center; Baltao covered court Pinoy Club; and Barangay 598 multi-purpose hall.
He said Manila City Hall officials led by Lim visited Damka Street in Sta. Mesa, Manila where he distributed relief goods and financial assistance to some 2,000 residents displaced by neck-deep floods.
On Wednesday, de la Fuente said their team is set to visit Baltao and Valenzuela streets, both in Sta. Mesa, Manila, to provide similar assistance to victims.
Preparations for ‘Helen’
Although de la Fuente is hoping that tropical storm “Helen” would spare the city, he said their office will be “ready” for another possible evacuation.
He said Lim has standing orders to “utilize and open all 35 schools that were previously used.
“Ang Manila naman. In terms of preparations, nakita naman natin na pinamadali ni Mayor na ang pag baba ng tubig dito sa Lagusnilad and Recto underpass,” he added, referring to the 16-feet floodwaters in the area.