MMDA ready for onslaught of typhoon ‘Santi’ today

10/31/2009

Anticipating the onslaught of typhoon “Santi” in Metro Manila today, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) yesterday placed on standby an emergency workforce of about 700 personnel who will be on a 24-hour alert to respond to any emergencies throughout Metro Manila.

The alert teams, ready to be deployed in a moment’s notice, are also equipped with the necessary heavy equipment and tools for clearing, rescue, relief and evacuation efforts and will be pre-positioned in Makati, Timog, C-5, Ortigas Avenue and other strategic areas in the metropolis.

“Starting at 4 a.m. today, our emergency personnel will be placed on a 24/7 alert. They are properly equipped for any kind of emergencies,” MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando said.

Metrobase, the MMDA’s traffic and emergency monitoring center, will also be manned by extra number of personnel to receive and report all emergency assistance calls and assess the situations in major thoroughfares and flood-prone areas in Metro Manila during the typhoon period.

The public can reach Metrobase through its Hotline 136.

To keep the major thoroughfares and other vital roadways clear of any obstruction, Fernando said heavy equipment such as backhoes, cranes, forklifts, payloaders and rescue tender vehicles fully equipped with chainsaws, flood lights, generators, bareta de cabra, fire extinguishers and handsaws will be on hand to enable the MMDA personnel remove all forms of obstruction that would block the roadways.

Fernando said if the need arises, he would pull out some of the agency’s workforce and heavy equipment undertaking mopping-up operations of mud-laden streets in Marikina.

Fernando added the MMDA issued disaster alert advisories to local government units (LGUs) to execute preemptive measures to prevent losses to lives and properties should typhoon Santi wreak havoc on Metro Manila.

The directives, the MMDA chief said, should include LGUs undertaking preemptive evacuation of Metro Manila residents to safer grounds if massive flooding occurs.

To compliment these communications, the MMDA radio 1206 will be broadcasting news bulletins every hour, on the hour to inform the public of the prevailing situations across the capital.

Fernando said the MMDA’s workforce, with its heavy equipment in tow, is very much capable to remove uprooted trees, fallen billboards, mud and garbage strewn on the roads, and declog drainage systems in just a matter of time to ease traffic and prevent heavy flooding. Pat C. Santos

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