Pasig City remains under red alert status as light rains and overcast skies persist over eastern Metro Manila, despite a slight easing of heavy rains brought by a low pressure area (LPA) and the southwest monsoon or habagat as of Tuesday noon, July 22.
According to the report of RH Edniel Parrosa, the city government said that several areas in the city remain flooded, which was caused by the overflowing of the Wawa Dam in Rizal that prompted the city to raise its alert status to red on Monday, July 21.
“We don’t think na ibaba namin to Blue alert, to white alert ‘yan definitely we’re still anticipating the bad weather na idudulot ng LPA at ng habagat din,” said Bryant Wong, chief of the Pasig City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) in an interview with DZRH’s Habagat Special coverage on Tuesday.
Wong confirmed that a total of 15 barangays were affected by flooding, particularly low-lying areas and communities near creeks and rivers.
The city has set up 26 evacuation sites for approximately 4,000 families or around 16,000 individuals.
“As low as gutter-deep and as high as 7-8 feet. Mayroong mga areas na umaabot ng 7-8 feet, katabi ng creek or katabi ng ilog. Depende po iyan. Normally sa mga laylayan po talaga ito like sa Santolan na umabot ng 4 feet pero ngayon ay nag-subside na po,” Wong said.
He added that there were no reported casualties or missing persons in the city.
On Monday, Mayor Vico Sotto ordered the immediate implementation of forced evacuation procedures to prevent the need for high-risk rescues later.
He remains on standby at the city’s command post to oversee response operations.
“The city is providing (food and other materials). Nagkaroon lang ng kaunting aberya dahil sa numbers, dahil sudden ang pagdagsa ng mga tao. Syempre binibilang po yan ng CSWD natin, mayroong cases tayo like kahapon po hindi lahat nabigyan kaagad dahil biglang dumog ang mga tao.” Wong explained.
He further said that while 10,000 hot meals were prepared for breakfast, it was still insufficient.
“In lunch time we will make sure po na kumpleto ‘yong 15,000 na hot meals,” he added.
Wong emphasized that rescue operations will remain active, but authorities prefer to keep residents in evacuation centers as a preventive measure, especially with another low pressure area approaching, according to PAGASA forecasts.
Some schools have been converted into temporary shelters due to the limited capacity of covered courts in the city.
As of 12:00 noon, 26 evacuation centers remain operational, sheltering 4,359 families or 15,335 individuals across 15 barangays, according to the Pasig City Public Information Office (PIO).
Local authorities are maintaining heightened readiness amid continued flooding in several areas and the threat of more rains.
