Thursday, August 26, 2004 Gloria cancels pulong bayan due to bad weather, floods
* Presidents orders MMDA's Fernando to implement anti-flood measures
PRESIDENT Arroyo cancelled Wednesday her weekly pulong bayan (town hall meeting) in Pandacan because of the bad weather and floods that hit Metro Manila Wednesday.
Arroyo, at the same time, ordered Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando to institute new measures to prevent the recurrence of flash floods in the metro Wednesday.
The directive was issued as Malacañang suspended work in all government agencies except in departments engaged in protective and emergency response like the PNP, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC).
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, in issuing Memorandum Circular No. 64, said agencies engaged in vital services are required to maintain a skeletal work force to ensure the delivery of services and continuity of their operations.
Arroyo also cancelled her planned visit to victims of the flood and landslide in San Mateo in Rizal due to impassable roads leading to the area.
The President, during a visit at the Pandacan Pumping Station, with Fernando said out-of-school and unemployed youth should be tapped to engage in day-to-day garbage collection to help in the proper waste disposal and avoid clogging the creeks and main thoroughfares in Metro Manila.
Arroyo saw piles of garbage being scooped from the silted Estero de Pandacan, which is connected to the Pasig River during the visit.
Fernando agreed that proper garbage collection and disposal would prevent people from dumping them on the main roads or throw them into creeks.
He said aside from the garbage, the flash floods were also caused by an overflow of the San Juan River.
Presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye said Arroyo's directive also applies to other agencies engaged in flood control like the Department of Public Works and Highway (DPWH). (JMR)
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