Pasay City declares state of calamity; 100 villages flooded

Members of the Philippine Coast personnel rescue residents who trapped from the flood water in Maricaban, Pasay City. Monsoon rains reinforced by a tropical storm flooded half the Philippine capital in just 24 hours, triggering landslides and killing at least eight people, officials said. At least 40,000 people sought shelter in government evacuation centres across the main island of Luzon and more than double that number moved to relatives’ or friends’ homes for safety as schools and government offices shut for a second day. PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD

MANILA, Philippines — Pasay City has been placed under a state of calamity following the heavy rains enhanced by tropical storm “Maring” that caused floods since Sunday.

The incessant rains flooded 100 villages (barangay) in the city, prompting residents to leave their homes and seek shelter in evacuation centers.

Upon the recommendation of Mayor Antonino “Tony” Calixto, the Pasay City Council convened a special session on Wednesday morning and declared Pasay under state of calamity.

Calixto said that the move would allow the use of the city’s calamity funds for thousands of displaced residents.

He said that based on the records from the City Social Welfare Development, a total of 4,671 families or 45,919 individuals were affected by the flood since Sunday.

The mayor said that at the height of the monsoon rains on Tuesday afternoon, at least 50 percent of the streets in Pasay were flooded and floodwaters rose to more than five feet in barangay 180, 181, 182, and 183.

“Now that Pasay is under a state of calamity, this will hasten our relief and rehabilitation efforts for the affected families who are now in our 11 evacuation areas,” Calixto said in a statement.

He added that the declaration would allow residents to avail of calamity loans being provided by Pag-IBIG, Social Security System and emergency loans from the Government Service Insurance System.

“We’ve been closely monitoring the situation in several barangays with great concern. I strongly encourage our residents to follow the public safety orders given by our barangay officials, Pasay City Disaster Risk Reduction Office and other local authorities in order to keep you and your loved ones safe,” he said.

The rescue operations started Sunday of those affected by floods spawned by heavy rains. Worst hit by the flooding are Barangays 177, 179, 181, 182, 184, 186, 190, 191, 193 and 201, 132 and 185, all in Pasay.

Pasay’s evacuation centers are as follows: Barangay 201 — gymnasium; Brgy. 184 — gymnasium; Brgy. 33 — hall; Brgy. 137 — hall; Brgy. 177 — hall; Brgy. 179 — hall; Brgy. 182 — gymnasium; Brgy 184 — gymnasium; Brgy. 186 — gymnasium; Brgy 190 — hall; Brgy. 191 — hall.