Senator Win Gatchalian is visiting Marikina City today, one of the cities hardest hit by typhoon Ulysses that battered Luzon last week, to be apprised of the power supply situation.
Gatchalian, Chairman of the Senate Energy Committee, noted that some parts of the city are still submerged in mud and remain to have unstable electricity supply as well as internet connectivity.
“Flash floods come with no warning and can even be more devastating like in the case of Marikina City. Many could not help but recall the painful memories of typhoon Ondoy which caused massive flooding in Metro Manila in 2009,” he said.
“Ramdam natin kung ano ang pinagdadaanan nila sa ngayon, lalo na kung napagdaanan din nila ang pagbaha ng bagyong Ondoy 11 years ago. Mas malala ang sitwasyon ngayon dahil sa iniinda nating pandemya dulot ng COVID-19. Malaking hamon ito kaya kailangang tutukan ang mga pangangailangan nila para madali silang makabagon at makabalik sa normal nilang pamumuhay,” the senator added.
Gatchalian will meet with Marikina City Mayor Marcelino Teodoro to turn over some food packs and other essentials containing kilos of rice, canned goods, noodles, slippers, and face shields for over 2,000 families.
The senator will personally oversee the distribution of the said items in H. Bautista Elementary School and Malanday Elementary School where 475 and 631 families are currently staying respectively.
The two other evacuation centers, Nangka Elementary School and Concepcion Integrated School, which continue to provide temporary shelters to nearly a thousand families, will likewise receive relief goods.
Teodoro declared a month-long suspension of classes in all levels for both public and private schools in Marikina to give way for the rehabilitation of the city.
Given the extensive damage wrought by typhoon Ulysses, Marikina City has been placed under a state of calamity. The declaration would allow the local government to gain access to calamity funds and fast track relief and rehabilitation efforts and other humanitarian assistance.