MMDA deploys rescue teams as heavy rains drown metro

MANILA, Philippines - The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Friday deployed four teams to various flooded areas in Metro Manila to assist in rescue and evacuation operations.

MMDA Chair Francis Tolentino said the teams were deployed from the agency’s office in Makati at 1 p.m.

Tolentino said the teams will assist personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) in conducting rescue and evacuation operations in flooded areas in Marikina, Pasay, Pasig, Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela, San Juan and in Quezon City, particularly in Barangay Silangan and Talayan.

As of noon, Tolentino said the flooded portions of the North Luzon Expressway going to Balintawak became passable. As of afternoon, he said the floodwater at the portion of EDSA near Gate 3 of Camp Aguinaldo, has also subsided.

Tolentino said the areas of Metro Manila that remain under floodwater include Araneta Ave., Quezon Ave., in Quezon City; R. Papa in Manila, areas near the San Juan River, Barangay Damayan Lagi in Roxas District and the Biak Na Bato area in Quezon City.

Also severely flooded and impassable to all types of vehicles were  Damayan Lagi in Quezon City, some portions of Sta. Mesa, Blumentritt and Osmeña Highway in Manila.

Tolentino also reported that a 2-year-old child also died in Barangay Bagong Silangan in Quezon. He added that some 5,206 families have been evacuated and relocated in Quezon City while some 100 families were rescued in Mandaluyong City.

As of early Friday, the NCRPO also deployed vehicles to help ferry stranded commuters, the MMDA said.

Meanwhile, the MMDA reported that as of 12:45 p.m., the following areas remain under floodwater :

Manila

Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard to V. Mapa (not passable to all types of vehicles), Espana Boulevard (not passable to all types of vehicles), Nagtahan – north bound and south bound (gutter deep), Vicente Cruz (gutter deep), M. dela Fuente (gutter deep), Del Pan Bridge southbound (gutter deep), Rio de Moriones (gutter deep), Rio de Capulong (gutter deep), Quirino-Taft Avenue eastbound (not passable to all types of vehicles), Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard to Pureza (not passable to all types of vehicles) and Lacson to Fajardo (gutter deep).

South Metro

Andrews Avenue to Tramo (gutter deep),  Osmeña Highway to Buendia (not passable to all types of vehicles).

East Metro

Ortigas west bound to C. Raymundo Avenue (gutter deep), Marcos Highway eastbound and westbound before Masinag (not passable to all types of vehicles ), Gil Fernando to Dragon St. (gutter deep).

San Juan area

F. Manalo (not passable to all types of vehicles), Brgy. Salapan (not passable to all types of vehicles), Brgy. Batis (not passable to all types of vehicles), and Ortigas Santolan westbound (gutter deep).