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Amid heavy rain, Pateros, San Juan under state of calamity

August 8, 2012 4:59pm
In Marikina, a rivers blessing becomes a curse
In Marikina, a river's blessing becomes a curse. The Marikina River has nourished a valley community for generations. But strong rain this week has turned streets into streams, tormenting barangays like Barangka. The river is squeezed downstream in other cities that have allowed informal settlements to narrow the space for water to pass, making flooding upstream simply a matter of physics. Asti Flores
(Updated 5:56 p.m.) Two more local government units in Metro Manila were placed under a state of calamity in the wake of the floods brought by days of heavy rain.
 
The town council of Pateros decided to declare a state of calamity due to the damage caused by the rain and floods, Mayor Joey Medina told radio dzBB Wednesday.
 
"Yung Sangguniang Bayan nag-declare ng state of calamity, ang buong bayan ng Pateros," Medina said in an interview on dzBB radio.
 
He also said classes in private and public schools will remain suspended on Thursday amid the bad weather.

Medina said they are also considering extending the suspension of classes up to Friday, but said this is not final at this time.

Meanwhile, Rep. Jose Victor Ejercito said San Juan was also placed under a state of calamity due to the devastation brought by heavy rain and floods in past days.
 
Ejercito added classes in all levels in the city are suspended for Thursday amid forecasts of torrential rain over Metro Manila.
 
"San Juan (is) under (a) state of calamity. No classes tomorrow at all levels both public and private," Ejercito said in an entry on his Twitter account.
 
Floods in Pateros
 
In the dzBB interview, Medina said: "Dito sa Pateros meron tayong 13 evacuation centers, karamihan dito ay paaralan (Most of the 13 evacuation centers in the town are schools)," he said.
 
Medina said the rain had fallen nonstop on Pateros for several days, flooding at least four major thoroughfares.
 
"Ngayon, halos apat na kalye na [ang] di na madaanan dahil mataas ang tubig baha," he said. — RSJ, GMA News