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DILG wants warning signs in flood-prone areas in Metro Manila


A Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) memorandum states that local governments should "ensure the installation of signages and markers in identified hazards and danger zones."

However, according to a report by Ivan Mayrina on GMA News 24 Oras, there were no such warning signs at least in some areas in Quezon City when the news team made the rounds.

Known to get under water every time it rains, there was not one sighting of warning markers along Mother Ignacia Avenue at Barangay South Triangle in Quezon City.  There were also none along Timog Avenue and Scout Tobias, which also immediately get flooded.

In a number of times, vehicles were seen floating in these streets  during a downpour.  The signages would have helped motorists avoid the areas when it rains.

The signages were also missing along Araneta Avenue and the areas near the Talakayan Creek, which are flood-prone.

There was a flood level warning at the corner of Quezon Avenue and Biak Na Bato.

Pedro Battung, barangay chairman of South Triangle, said that despite the absence of warning signs, officials are on a 24/7 monitoring during flooding with the help of CCTVs. 

He said the barangay is also prepared to respond to residents needing assistance during calamities.

"For street flooding, we depend so much sa PAGASA ang ating instrument na nakikita naman dito sa emergency operations center," Mike Marasigan, chief of the QC Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, said.

The QC emergency operations center is equipped with facilities that display the situation in various areas during rains in real time.  It also has flood mapping, water level sensors on streets and rivers and rain gauge.

The information generated from the center are disseminated down to the barangay level for proper action.

"Sa laki ng Quezon City, ang ating frontliners diyan ay ang ating barangay public safety officers, sa 24/7 din sila diyan," Marasigan said. —LDF, GMA News

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