|
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Floods, rains disrupt classes, work in metro
MANILA -- Torrential monsoon rains induced by typhoon Egay (international codename: Sepat) caused flooding in many parts of Metro Manila on Wednesday, causing classes and work in government and private offices to get cancelled.
The Department of Education (DepEd) suspended classes in the elementary and secondary levels in all schools in the National Capital Region (NCR) mid-morning on Wednesday.
Arroyo Watch: Sun.Star blog on President Arroyo
At around 9 a.m., DepEd-NCR Director Teresita Domalanta issued the suspension order.
"Even without a storm signal, we have to suspend classes effectively because floods have started to inundate the streets, particularly here in the National Capital Region. The suspension is effective immediately," she said.
Amelia Biglete, NCR director of the Commission on Higher Education (Ched), likewise declared a suspension of classes in the tertiary level. "The suspension was necessary because the situation seems to be getting worse and the rains are getting stronger," she said.
Malacañang also suspended work in government offices, including government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs). Many private offices also sent their employees home.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita issued Memorandum Circular 139 on the suspension of work in government offices in the NCR upon the recommendation of the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC).
Only government agencies engaged in disaster coordination and response operations were exempted from the suspension of work order.
House Speaker Jose De Venecia also suspended work in the Lower Chamber and sent its employees home.
A sudden brownout hit Ortigas Center in Pasig City, disrupting the operations of the Metro Railway Transit (MRT) for 20 minutes.
Floods have submerged V. Mapa and Pureza Streets in Sta. Mesa and Lacson and Dapitan Streets in Sampaloc; T.M. Kalaw and Ma. Orosa Streets in the Ermita-Malate district; E. Rodriguez and Araneta Avenues in Cubao, Quezon City; Pasong Tamo in Makati City; Libertad in Pasay City; and portions of Shaw Boulevard and General Kalentong in Mandaluyong City.
Parts of San Juan, Malabon and Caloocan cities were also flooded due to the heavy downpour that started late Tuesday night.
Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Traffic Operations Center head Angelito Vergel de Dios reported heavy traffic in the southbound lanes of Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (Edsa) going to Ortigas Avenue; South Superhighway from Magallanes to Quirino Avenue; South Superhighway from Quirino Avenue going to Leon Guinto Avenue; Osmena Avenue going to Taft Avenue.
The heavy rains caused two walls along Barangay East Drive in Marikina City and in Nayon ng Kabataan, Fabella in Barangay Welfareville in Mandaluyong City to collapse. No one however was injured in the incidents.
National Capital Region Command (NCRcom) chief Ben Mohammad Dolorfino said he has ordered the dispatch of military trucks and rubber boats to the flooded areas in Mandaluyong and Caloocan to transport people stranded by the flooding.
NDCC spokesman and concurrent Office of Civil Defense (OCD) deputy administrator Anthony Golez said they were not updated on the extent of the flooding and referred concerns to the concerned local government units.
But the official said NDCC workers responded to the flooding in Mandaluyong City. Golez said the NDCC responded to the scene upon the request of a barangay official through the office of the city mayor.
NDCC Executive Office Glenn Rabonza said a total of 44 families or 223 persons have been evacuated. More than half of the evacuees are from Marikina City (23 families or 113 persons), followed by Malabon (14 families or 70 persons), and San Juan (seven families or 35 persons).
The flood did not spare President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who arrived late for her speaking engagement.
Arroyo initially arrived around 11 a.m. or about an hour late to her first public engagement, the inauguration of the new business outsourcing center, Aditya Minacs Center, in Libis in Quezon City, after the presidential convoy was forced to slow down and take alternate routes.
The President's convoy was forced to do "counter-flow" or drove along the opposite lane near Libis in Quezon City, eventually slowing down oncoming vehicles, to get to the BPO center.
Her convoy did the same when she proceeded to Caloocan City as she sent Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita to Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City around noon for the NDCC meeting. (AH/VR/JMR/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Dumaguete. (August 16, 2007 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
