MANILA – Quezon City in Metro Manila, the municipality of Calumpit in Bulacan, and the entire province of Cavite are under state of calamity due to the widespread flooding brought about by days of heavy monsoon rains.
The Quezon City Council on Tuesday approved resolution PR23CC-054 declaring a state of calamity in the city as recommended by the QC Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (QCDRRMC).
In an interview, QC Mayor Joy Belmonte said the state of calamity was declared to fast-track the release and use of emergency funds and not as an indicator of large-scale destruction.
“I would like to just correct 'yung maling akala ng mga tao pag sinabing state of calamity, kawawa naman yung lungsod, maraming deaths, maraming destruction. Hindi po 'yan ang ibig sabihin ng state of calamity (the misconception that state of calamity means there are deaths or widespread destruction. That is not what state of calamity means),” Belmonte said.
“Ang ibig sabihin nun ay puwede po natin i-access 'yung tinatawag nating quick response fund, which is 30 percent of our fund, ma-access na mas mabilis para mabilis po ang rehabilitation (What that means is that we can access what we call the quick response fund, which is 30 percent of our fund, so we can access it faster for immediate rehabilitation)."
Belmonte said the city government has already identified three key areas where the quick response fund will be immediately used.
She said the fund would be allotted particularly for the clean-up operation to clear large volumes of garbage and debris left by floodwaters.
She said the city plans to hire more garbage trucks to expedite this effort.
Budget would also be allotted for the repair of damaged minor infrastructures, and for the purchase of essential medicines for evacuees, as overcrowding in evacuation centers has led to increased health concerns.
“Doon po sa tatlong 'yan mapupunta 'yung portion lang naman ng quick response fund. We will not use all of it kasi mahaba pa ang taon at maaring marami pa tayong kalamidad na maranasan (The budget would go to those three, but only a portion of the quick response fund will be used. We will not use all of it because the year is still long and we may still experience other disasters),” Belmonte said.
Cavite, Calumpit
In Cavite, Governor Francisco Gabriel “Abeng” Remulla made the announcement in a post on his Facebook page.
“Dahil sa matinding epekto ng habagat na pinalakas ng Severe Tropical Storm 'Crising,' idineklara ng Pamahalaang Panlalawigan ng Cavite ang buong lalawigan sa ilalim ng State of Calamity (Due to the severe effects of the southwest monsoon intensified by Severe Tropical Storm 'Crising,' the provincial government of Cavite has placed the entire province under state of calamity),” he said in his post.
“Ang deklarasyong ito ay layuning mapabilis ang pagkilos ng mga ahensya ng gobyerno sa pagbibigay ng agarang tulong, pagsasaayos ng mga nasalanta, at paggamit ng mga pondo para sa kalamidad upang masigurong ligtas at protektado ang bawat Caviteño (This declaration aims to expedite the actions of government agencies in providing immediate assistance, rehabilitating the affected areas, and utilizing disaster funds to ensure the safety and protection of every Caviteño)."
Meanwhile, in Calumpit, Bulacan, Mayor Lem Faustino cited the flooding caused by the continuous rainfall, high tide, and water release from Ipo Dam as reason for the declaration of state of calamity in the municipality.
In her Facebook post, she said the declaration, through SB Resolution No. 85-2025, was approved by the Sangguniang Bayan upon recommendation of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC).
Latest data from the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) and the MDRRMC showed that a total of 131,832 individuals, or 40,501 families from 29 barangays, have been affected by the flooding.
Of the number, 317 families or 1,188 individuals were evacuated and are currently staying in nine evacuation centers.
Faustino said around 19 hectares of crops have been damaged, equivalent to around PHP3.8 million in losses. (PNA)