Despite preparations for the onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses, Marikina City appealed for urgent help from the national government in rescuing residents stranded in their homes due to, with Mayor Marcelino Teodoro admitting the local government’s lapses and lack of resources to respond to everyone who needs assistance.
Mayor Teodoro said the effect of Ulysses is different from any other their city have experienced, even the devastating Tropical Storm Ondoy in 2009. He said this time, water crept up and quickly rose even in areas that are not flood-prone.
“Napakabilis ng pangyayari. Tulad ngayon mahina na ang pag-ulan sa Marikina pero kita mo tumataas pa rin ang tubig sa ilang lugar,” he said.
[It all happened so fast. Right now, the rain is getting weaker but water levels continue to increase in some areas.]”
Authorities in Marikina started forcibly evacuating residents near the swollen Marikina River at 3 a.m. All 47 evacuation centers in the city are full, with some evacuees seeking temporary shelter in nearby homes. T
“Aminado ako na talagang nagkukulang ang pamahalaang lokal ngayon sa bagay na iyan… Inaamin ko ang pagkukulang namin sa pagkakataong ito. Hindi naman namin maipagmamalaki ito,” he said. “Tuloy-tuloy, hindi kami titigil sa rescue operations.”
[I admit our local government’s shortcomings. We are not proud of this. But we will continue with the rescue operations.]
