By Janice M. Cave
Marikina City's bitter experience from the wrath of tropical storm "Ondoy" in September 2009 is a memory rather forgotten, but it has inculcated among local officials and residents a positive trait worthy of emulation -- readiness at all times.
Jerome Pascual and his family, long-time residents of Provident Village -- one of the hardest-hit areas by rampaging floodwaters during Ondoy (international name "Ketsana) -- have learned to accept that flooding would be the "new normal" in times of heavy downpour.
"Tanggap na namin na bahain yung lugar namin kaya ang magagawa na lang talaga namin ay maging ready everytime na malakas yung ulan [We've accepted that our village is flood-prone so we always have to be alert at all times, especially during heavy downpour]," Pascual said.
There was no sign of panic among them when monsoon rains (Habagat) pummeled the metropolis and nearby provinces last month, Pascual said.
"Since meron na kaming experience noong Ondoy, alam na namin ang gagawin. May sistema na kami kung ano ang uunahing isalba sa mga gamit at siyempre kung paano kami magsu-survive [Since we've experienced how it was like during Ondoy, we now know what to do. We've come up with our own survival plan and which of our belongings get to be saved first]," he added.
For three straight days, Habagat dumped almost the same amount of rainfall as that of Ondoy three years ago.
Pascual recalled that during Ondoy, floodwaters reached the second floor of their two-story house. Habagat was "much gentle," he said, as floodwaters at that time entered the ground floor only.
They were prepared and had stocks of ready-to-eat food but Pascual said they did not anticipate the non-stop rain for three days.
"Naubusan kami ng pagkain kasi 'di naman namin expected na tatagal ng three days yung baha. Sumasabay yung Papa ko sa rescuers para pumunta sa bayan at bumili ng food namin," he said.
It was reminiscent of Ondoy at all front but this time, there was no casualty, Marikina Mayor Del De Guzman said.
"We attribute it to preparedness. We've learned our lessons from Ondoy and people are now aware of what to do in cases like typhoons," De Guzman said in an interview.
When Ondoy struck the metropolis on Sept. 26 three years ago, Marikina City suffered the hardest blow.
Hundreds of residents from low-lying areas of the city were killed due to flashfloods as high as a two-story building.
"In the blink of an eye, floodwaters started to flow from the upland areas down to the city. It was that fast and people had no time to prepare," the mayor said.
De Guzman said the city is taking a proactive stance in disaster preparedness and mitigation.
"In terms of preparedness, we are definitely much prepared now. In fact, we have adopted a policy of zero-rescue, meaning we have certain level or alert depending on the flood or water level of the Marikina River," he stressed.
The city government has installed an alarm system at the Marikina River that would alert residents living nearby that the water level is rising, especially during heavy downpour.
De Guzman said most of the residents are more cooperative now, but still some choose to stay, hoping that the floodwater will eventually subside.
"They are being directed to evacuation centers... voluntary yun. By that time nakaalis na lahat... kapag 17 meters na at may mga natira pa sa kani-kanilang bahay, they will be evacuated," he said.
Since Marikina City is nestled below the mountains of Montalban and San Mateo in Rizal, the Marikina River virtually becomes a catchbasin of floodwaters from the uplands during strong typhoons.
De Guzman noted that the river has been heavily silted due to the non-stop monsoon rains last August.
The river's normal water level used to be at 12-13 meters but now it has gone up to 14 meters as an effect of heavy siltation, he added.
"After the Habagat, halos pantay na yung enbankment at yung carriageway ng water sa ilog," he said.
Before the year ends and if there are sufficient funds, De Guzman said the city plans to buy a dredging machine to deepen the river.
The city has also started to plant trees at the Marikina watershed.
Recently, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources turned over a more detailed geohazard map, tree seedlings and coffee beans as the city is being eyed as a coffee plantation.
"We've started massive tree planting at the Marikina watershed. Gusto nila hindi lang sila magtanim kung hindi maging livelihood na din ito," the mayor said.
After Habagat, De Guzman said he issued an order to strengthen and organize a disaster risk reduction and management council down to the barangay level.
"Everyone will be having a disaster management seminar, including barangay officials, schools, lahat," he said.
"Hindi na maiiwasan ang mga ganitong pangyayari kaya dapat parati tayong handa," he added.
The city government also makes sure that there is a stockpile of canned goods, water and other basic necessities inside the relief operations center housed at the Marikina Sports Park.
Linkback:
https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=54963.0
