The best Filipino spirit comes out during calamities

By Rose de la Cruz

Flood prone Marikina City, where the Marikina River plunged the city and its environs with days-long floods during Tropical Storm Ondoy in 2009, is now on the brink of seeing a repeat of this calamitous floods and already, SM supermall in Marikina was among the first to open its doors to flood victims and city motorists whose cars are offered free and safe parking.

In a public service advisory on Facebook, SM City Marikina said malls would be open to all those seeking temporary shelter from the heavy rainfall and flooding. All overnight parking charges will be waived July 24.

“Free wi-fi, charging stations and a help desk are ready to serve everyone,” it continued.

The mall said it is ready to serve all customers for their essential needs. Mall hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Other SM City malls in Metro Manila that issued similar public service advisories on FB were: SM City Baguio, San Mateo, SM North EDSA, SM City Marilao, Fairview, Clark, Olongapo, Bacoor, Rosales, Bataan, Pampanga, San Fernando Downtown, Aura, SM Masinag, SM Tarlac, SM Telebastagan and SM City Grand Central.

Further, SM City Marikina also announced that the scheduled jobs fair today called Trabaho Para sa Pinoy has been moved indefinitely because of the inclement weather.

Some Catholic parishes posted also special prayers to stop the rains and floods and asked the devotees who braved the floods and rains to hear mass or their devotions to pray for everyone, especially those in the path of storm Carina, which is widely believed to have surpassed the fury of Ondoy on September 23 to 30, 2009 in just three days of its attack.

Meanwhile, churches and some civic groups are now mobilizing their members and faithful with fund drives and donations in kind of clothes, canned goods and rice, groceries, blankets and personal hygiene kits to be distributed to those housed in relocation sites.

All government workers and some private companies sent their employees home to ensure their safety for the rest of the day. This because many streets have been flooded and with the rains unceasing, floods are expected to rise higher and more roads will become impassable for all types of transportation.

In Manila, Mayor Honey Lacuna suspended work in city offices following the recommendation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council because of the continuous donwpour from the storm and southwest monsoon. The suspension aims to ensure the safety of all city employees. But exempted from the suspension of work are city departments and offices involved in the delivery of basic health services, disaster and calamity preparedness and response and other vital services. These essential services will continue to operate to ensure the needs of Manilenos.

[ Since last night, Mayor Honey Lacuna has been continuously monitoring the situation in Manila. As of 12AM, all agencies of the Manila City Government have been deployed to conduct monitoring, rescue operations, emergency response, traffic control, and clean-ups throughout the city.]

Lacuna had been monitoring the situation and tasked the deployment of people to monitor, hold rescue operations, emergency response, traffic control and clean-ups of the city. She also ordered the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau (MTPB) and the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) to monitor all areas for flooding. Additionally, the Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) and the City Electrician’s Office are tasked with checking for any affected electrical wirings and posts, as well as fallen structures and trees.

All Brigada Eskwela activities have been suspended. The Mayor assures the public that updates on rescue and evacuation operations will be provided promptly. Those who were evacuated yesterday remain in evacuation centers, with ongoing roving operations to ensure everyone’s safety.

All schools in the City of Manila have been designated as temporary evacuation sites for those affected by the rain and floods. The Manila Police District (MPD) and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) are also actively monitoring and assisting in evacuation efforts.

All hospitals in the city are on code white, with medications for prophylaxis against leptospirosis readily available.

Further updates will be communicated as the situation develops.