5,000 Pasay students evacuated as floodwaters rise

MANILA, Philippines - More than 5,000 students were evacuated from their schools to safer grounds after floodwaters rose to more than two feet yesterday morning in particular areas of Pasay City.

Nerissa Santy of the Pasay City Rescue Team said 3,000 Pasay City South High School students and more than 2000 students at the Villamor Air Base Elementary School were transported to nearby barangay halls in city dump trucks and the military’s six-by-six trucks.

“The students were brought to nearby barangay halls where they can wait until it is finally safe to go home. Some students went home on their own while others waited for their parents or relatives to pick them up,” Santy said.

She added that the students in these areas usually have to pass a creek on their way home, so it would be dangerous for them to walk home during a heavy downpour.

Mayor Wenceslao Trinidad suspended classes in elementary and high schools in the city at 10 a.m. and work at the city hall at about noon.

In Parañaque City, floodings were monitored along Ninoy Aquino Avenue up to Dr. A. Santos Avenue, as well as from Evacom to Sucat Road.

Meanwhile, a number of barangays in Muntinlupa City, particularly Tunasan and Bayanan, were also reported to be submerged in floodwaters.

Stranded commuters get free ride 

The Philippine National Police (PNP) offered free rides yesterday to commuters stranded in Metro Manila streets after typhoon “Maring” battered the metropolis and flooded several low-lying areas and rendering them impassable to light vehicles.

Metro police chief Director Roberto Rosales activated the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC) as he directed his five police districts to closely monitor low-lying areas and prepare evacuation plans for affected residents.

Once there is an evacuation of residents, Rosales said district directors must secure the vacated homes and evacuation centers to prevent “looters” and criminals from taking advantage of the situation.

PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa sent four six-by-six trucks to the National Capital Region Police Office to augment four other such vehicles used by the NCRPO in ferrying stranded commuters, particularly in Navotas and Malabon.

Reports reaching Rosales showed that Magallanes Village and Mantrade in Makati City was flooded yesterday causing a traffic gridlock in the area, forcing vehicles coming out of the South Superhighway to slow to a crawl for hours.

Rosales said the Manila, Eastern, Quezon City and Southern Police Districts reported no other flooded areas in their jurisdiction.   – Rhodina Villanueva, Non Alquitran