More than 10,000 people were evacuated to safer grounds after flooding hit some parts of Muntinlupa City yesterday due to intermittent heavy rains brought about by the southwest monsoon, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said.
NDRRMC executive director Undersecretary Benito Ramos said some 2,606 families composed of 10,566 individuals from eight barangays in Muntinlupa City were displaced by the latest flooding.
Four barangays, namely, Buli, Poblacion, Cupang and Sucat were hit by flooding that went as high as hip deep.
The other affected barangays were Tunasan, Putatan, Bayanan and Alabang where knee-deep flood waters were reported.
Ramos said the NDRRMC-Operation Center at Camp Aguinaldo will maintain its alert level at blue to have 50 percent of its personnel available for response.
“The Office of Civil Defense-National Capital Region is continuously monitoring the weather situation and operational readiness in its area of responsibility,” Ramos said.
“The OCD advised concerned NDRRMCs to undertake precautionary measures in their respective areas and subsequently direct local councils to initiate pre-emptive evacuation of families in low-lying areas, if situation warrants,” Ramos added.
Weather forecast stated that Metro Manila will continue to experience occasional light to moderate rains and thunderstorms.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) has monitored another shallow low pressure area at 280 kilometer east of Infanta, Quezon.
Relatedly, two major dams in northern Luzon, namely, Binga and Magat, have opened gates as water levels have breached the normal level.
The NDRRMC said water level at Binga Dam in Benguet was at 574.61 meters, a little below its spilling level of 575 meters. One gate was opened to prevent any untoward situation. Water released from Binga will flow downstream to San Roque Dam in Pangasinan.
On the other hand, Magat Dam has opened one gate to release excess water as the level rose to 192.92 meters which is already beyond the normal 190 meters.