MARIKINA City Mayor Marcelino Teodoro on Thursday, November 12, 2020, sought assistance from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) in conducting rescue operations for families trapped on their roofs due to the massive flooding wrought by Typhoon Ulysses (Vamco).
The typhoon’s powerful winds also cut off electricity for at least 3.8 million customers, Manila Electric Company (Meralco) spokesman Joe Zaldarriaga said.
"Maraming poste ang na-damage, di ko pa alam kailan maaayos...baka matagalan pa,” he said.
In a radio interview, Teodoro said “Ulysses” is worse than Tropical Storm Ondoy in 2009 in terms of causing massive flooding.
“Na-overwhelm na yung assets natin for rescue operations. Kaya kanina nanawagan na ako sa national government particularly sa PCG and PNP (Philippine National Police) maritime para tulungan tayo sa rescue operation,” he said.
“Lumagpas na sa level ng Ondoy nada 21.8 meters na ang water level ng ating Marikina river maraming lugar ang historically hindi binabaha sa Marikina pero ngayon ay nakalubog na. Isang magandang example d’yan ‘yung City Hall hindi binabaha pero ngayon buong first floor baha na,” he added.
As of Thursday morning, he said they have rescued 300 to 500 persons.
PCG commandant Admiral George Ursubia said they will deploy rubber boats for rescue operations.
He said they were in close coordination with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to identify the areas where their assistance is needed most.
He said they received calls for help from Marikina City and Rizal province, particularly the towns of Rodrigues, Montalban and San Mateo.
Ursubia said the challenge is how they can penetrate the area as some areas were inundated by four to five-foot-deep water.
MMDA general manager Jose Arturo Garcia assured assistance to the affected areas.
For its part, the NDRRMC said help is already on the way in the affected areas.
"Nakapag-deploy na kami ng Coast Guard team with rescue boats kanina pang madaling araw," NDRRMC spokesperson Mark Timbal said.
"Marami pong tumatawag. Our rescue teams have been deployed. Naiintindihan po namin ang inyong sitwasyon. Konting antay lang po. Eto po, minamadali namin," he added.
Several residents in Montalban, Rodriguez and San Mateo were also calling for help as some of them were already on their roofs due to massive flooding that entered their homes, reaching even on the second floor.
Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian said they preemptively evacuated around 400 families, especially those living near the Tullahan and Meycauayan River.
“All major roads passable warning lang sa mga motorists ‘yung tulyahan bridge mataas tubig, near waist deep na so may nakaestasyon don na mga trucks para maitawid ang mga pedestrian,” he said.
Bulacan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office said the towns of San Miguel, San Ildefonso and San Rafael experienced flash floods.
They also urged the residents of Pulilan Hagonoy and Calumpit to prepare for flash floods.
The municipalities of Bocaue, Marilao and Balagtas were also experiencing massive flooding.
Motorists along the north and south bound lanes of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) were stranded as part of Bocaue was not passable due to flooding.
“Kaninang mga 7 a.m. impassable na ang Bocaue river area both directions, bumaba na sa south bound pero hindi pa rin safe daanan,” Robin Garcia of NLEX said.
“In-allow na namin para makapag u-turn yung mga nastranded para makahanap sila ng alternate route or makabalik nalang muna,” he added.
In Cavite, several residents were also stranded particularly in the town of Noveleta. (SunStar Philippines)