MANILA, Philippines – A state of calamity has been declared in the National Capital Region (NCR) on Wednesday, July 24, due to the widespread flooding brought by the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat, enhanced by Typhoon Carina.
The Metro Manila Council (MMC) made the decision following a situation briefing headed by Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos.
Abalos recommended to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to put Metro Manila under a state of calamity amid widespread flooding in various cities in the capital region.
But according to the President, it is the local chief executives of NCR, through the MMC who will decide whether a state of calamity will be declared in the region.
The declaration of the state of calamity would allow the local government to access to additional funds for calamity response and impose a price freeze on basic goods.
Parts of Metro Manila and nearby provinces were flooded on Wednesday amid the heavy overnight rains.
"Talagang halos baha ang buong Kalakhang Maynila," Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said.
Abalos reported that large parts of the low-lying cities in Metro Manila are submerged in floodwaters, noting that 70 percent of areas in Navotas City are flooded; 80 percent in Malabon City; and 60 percent in Valenzuela City.
Typhoon Carina is forecast to steadily intensify and may reach its peak intensity prior to its landfall over the northern portion of Taiwan Wednesday afternoon or early evening.
The disturbance will leave the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) Wednesday night or Thursday early morning.
— The Summit Express
