By Christine Fabro
About 3,411 families or 14,892 individuals were evacuated and brought to some 29 evacuation centers in Marikina City, as of Saturday (July 24).
Marikina Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office said on Saturday that strict compliance to minimum health standards are being implemented in all evacuation centers, wherein only 30% of the total capacity for each shelter is being occupied.
The alert level at the Marikina River was lowered to the first alarm after its water level went down to 15.6 meters as of 2:36 p.m. today, Marikina City Mayor Marcelino Teodoro said.
In a Laging Handa public briefing today, National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Center (NDRRMC) Spokesperson Mark Timbal said that local government units (LGUs) have provided appropriate assistance to the evacuees.
“Natutuwa po tayo, kasi naging maagap ang mga LGUs sa pagsasagawa ng mga evacuation activities at pag-po-provide po ng assistance dito sa mga nagsi-evacuate nating kababayan,” Timbal said.
Disaster relief operations
On a national level, NDRRMC’s Disaster Relief Operation is said to be providing assistance to all evacuees caused by continuous monsoon rains brought about by southwest monsoon or “habagat”.
Amid the threat of a possible COVID-19 spread within evacuation centers, Timbal assured that there is “more than enough relief support” for all affected individuals.
He added, “Assured naman doon sa evacuation center, na kapag doon kayo tumuloy, susundin pa rin po evacuation center management iyong pag-iingat, physical distancing, iyong sanitation doon sa lugar na iyon, disinfection, at dapat din kayo rin mismo bilang mga indibidwal, susundin din iyong minimum health standards para doon sa pagtutulungan natin na iyan, diyan ma-ga-guarantee natin na walang magkakahawaan, walang magkakasakit.” -rir
