President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. personally assessed the Navotas City navigational gate on July 25, 2024.
The gate was damaged when a barge forced its way through the channel last June. ‘Super Typhoon Carina’ brought heavy rainfall to different areas in Luzon, and Navotas City was among those that suffered the worst flooding due to the damaged navigational gate, which was supposed to serve as the city’s barrier during high tide or continuous rain. Joining the president are Navotas City Representative Toby Tiangco (right), Malabon City Mayor Jeannie Sandoval (partly covered), and Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan. (RTVM screenshot)
MANILA (PIA) — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. visited the cities of Valenzuela, Malabon, and Navotas in northern Metro Manila on Thursday to assess the impact of Typhoon Carina and the enhanced southwest monsoon and to provide relief assistance to affected residents.
After leading a situation briefing at the Presidential Security Command Headquarters in Manila, Marcos traveled to Valenzuela, one of the cities that was submerged in floodwaters after the La Mesa Dam overflowed on Wednesday. Chest-deep floods were reported in some areas.
The president said dam operators must warn local government units and nearby communities before opening their gates. “We have a weakness there in our communication. Before opening the gates of dams, they should inform the downstream communities and the LGUs,” Marcos said.
Marcos then boarded a military truck and navigated the flooded roads of Valenzuela to visit the Malanday National High School and distribute relief goods to evacuees.
The president also visited the nearby cities of Malabon and Navotas and inspected the damaged navigational gate, which should have served as a barrier during high tide. The gate was damaged last June when a barge forced its way through the channel. While en route, Marcos distributed boxes of relief supplies to flood-hit residents.
The heavy rainfall on Wednesday worsened the situation in Malabon and Navotas due to the damaged gate.
The entire Metro Manila region has been placed under a state of calamity as the typhoon and the enhanced southwest monsoon triggered massive floods across the capital.
According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, 14 people have died, two were reported as missing, and two were injured due to the effects of the bad weather. Eight deaths have been confirmed, while reports of six additional fatalities are still under validation.
During an earlier briefing, Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. told Marcos that various areas in Metro Manila and the provinces of Bulacan and Rizal saw “immeasurable” flood levels, with some houses fully inundated.
Apart from the NCR, the provinces of Oriental Mindoro, Batangas, Cavite, Bataan, and Bulacan have also declared a state of calamity. (JMP/PIA-NCR)
