Marikina City execs: No need to worry yet about river water level

Marikina City officials assured residents that there was no need to worry even if the water level at the Marikina River rose to 13.6 meters last night. As of Thursday morning, the water level was at 13.5 meters but it was expected to go down, according to a report of Connie Sison on "News to Go." Sison said the the first alarm will ring when the water reaches the critical level of 15 meters. The second alarm will ring when the water reaches 16 meters, while the third alarm will be at 17 meters. When the water level reaches 18 meters, Marikina City will forced to evacuate the area.
For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV At the Marikina Riverbanks, residents were seen monitoring the water level. During Typhoon Ondoy in 2009, the water level in Marikina reached 23 meters, the height of a four-storey building. One resident who lost his home during Typhoon Ondoy said he was hoping that the rains would stop and the river would not overflow. "Huwag na sanang magtuloy tuloy kasi baka umabot nanaman to dito eh," said Marikina resident Jose Lagutap on News to Go. "Kahapon pa pong umaga binigyan kami ng directive ni punong-lungsod Del R. De Guzman na i-monitor na ang water level, at ihanda na nag kagamitan tulad ng rubber boats at rescue truck. Ang city health office kailangang ihanda na ang kakailanganin natin," said Ronald Mejia, Officer-in-charge of Marikina Rescue 161. "Sa ngayon po nakahanda na po ang Rescue 161," said Mejia, adding that each department of the Marikina local government has already been assigned their respective tasks. "Para hindi na po kami magugulo kung saan kami pupunta, lahat po kami ay may kanya kanyang trabaho," he said. Mejia also said that the city is coordinating with local governments in Montalban, San Mateo and Pasig to resolve the problem of clogging downstream. "Nakikipagugnayan rin po kami sa MMDA para sa dredging," he said. The clogging of the Buli creek bordering Cainta and Pasig was found to have caused the massive flooding during Ondoy. Rapid clogging and siltation of drainage laterals and waterways was also pointed out as a cause of flooding by MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino in an earlier report. - VVP, GMA News