Marikina marks 6 years since ‘Ondoy’

MANILA, Philippines - Marikina City yesterday marked the sixth year since Tropical Storm Ondoy caused flash floods in Metro Manila in 2009 with a fluvial parade and a call by the city government to protect the Marikina watershed.

Led by Marikina Mayor Del de Guzman, city government officials also declared Sept. 26 as Marikina Watershed Protection Day, as mandated by an ordinance passed  in March. 

Ondoy, within six hours, released a month’s volume of rain. Twenty-three provinces and Metro Manila were placed under a state of calamity due to the widespread devastation caused by the storm.

De Guzman said he hopes everyone will heed his appeal for a concerted effort in the rehabilitation of the Marikina watershed. 

“I urge the public to act now and support efforts by government and corporations to reforest and rehabilitate our watershed as well as to create awareness about the need to care for this protected landscape. This is our first line of defense against flooding,” De Guzman said.