Camanava spared from typhoon’s fury

The Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela (Camanava) area, by a stroke of luck, escaped the fury of Milenyo coming out largely unscathed, except for toppled electric posts, uprooted trees and wayward billboards that were ripped apart from their moorings.

The local governments in this part of Metro Manila reported no major casualties or injuries even as provisions for a few isolated evacuees in flood-threatened areas were quickly distributed.

Caloocan City Mayor Enrico Echiverri yesterday reported that total damage to property, both public and private, could not be established yet as post-typhoon assessment continued up to press time. The same is true for the others, except for Valenzuela City, which pegged damages to government property at P1.5 million.

Echiverri, with some 10 composite team of personnel from the City Engineering Office, the Environment Sanitation Services (ESS) and the reformed Department of Public Safety and Traffic Management, made the rounds early evening yet of Thursday and up till sunrise yesterday.

The mayor, however, expressed concern over the damage wrought by the typhoon on school buildings.

He said most of the damage were incurred in District 2, in the city proper. Ocular investigation showed the galvanized iron sheet roofings were ripped out and the glass windows were shattered by the storm.

In Valenzuela City, Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian barangay-hopped in his area since Thursday and supervising operations at the Action Center at City Hall.

The public information office, health office, the social welfare office and the city disaster control office were on board 24-hours and up to yesterday.

Gatchalian said there were no major damages to vital city infrastructures including roads. Clearing started almost as soon as the winds died down and up to yesterday, some 100 personnel from the action center were dispatched to remove debris and uprooted trees in major roads.

Knee-high floodwaters were reported in barangays Polo, Arkong Bato, Mabolo, Malanday and Coloong but this went no higher. He said there were no reported evacuees.

All relief and rescue units had been at work until yesterday even as they continued to monitor developments in the 32 barangays of the city.

In Navotas, Mayor Toby Tiangco rejoiced over the fact that the floods did not hit them hard this time.

The tides also cooperated and only a few shanties, earlier abandoned by their occupants, were blown away. One of the major thoroughfares, M. Naval street, became impassable, but only because of some 10 Meralco posts that toppled over for several blocks. He said overall damages are yet to be determined. Uprooted trees marked the onslaught on the other major route, Gov. Pascual Avenue.

Malabon was spared of the effects of a drawn-out waterlogging as the floods, surprisingly insignificant compared to those brought in by previous storms, quickly subsided. Mayor Canuto "Tito" Oreta said the tides cooperated.

The local chief executives agreed it was safe to say that they are back to business as usual. — With Pete Laude