Manila, Muntinlupa declare state of calamity


By Margaux Ortiz, Jocelyn Uy
Inquirer
Last updated 00:10am (Mla time) 09/30/2006

Published on Page A21 of the September 30, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

THE cities of Manila and Muntinlupa have declared a state of calamity following the devastation by Typhoon Milenyo.

In Manila, 897 barangays were affected. Mayor Lito Atienza said it was the first time the city council declared a city-wide state of calamity.

Muntinlupa evacuated 1,264 families in the city’s eight barangays.

Manila Councilor Ernesto Dionisio, majority floor leader, said that with the declaration, each barangay could use five percent or P30,000-50,000 of its calamity fund for rehabilitation purposes.

Atienza added that the city’s P25 million calamity fund would be used to help displaced residents.

The mayor said restoration work in Manila would be hastened with the city government and barangays properly funded and working together. He expected that everything would be back to normal Monday.

In Muntinlupa, the city council approved the release of P15 million for rehabilitation.

“It was so far the worst typhoon to hit the city,” said Mayor Jaime Fresnedi. He assured residents the situation was under control.

The Public Order and Safety Office (POSO) said all missing persons were accounted for.

Fresnedi ordered the City Health Office to take steps to prevent an outbreak of diseases, especially dengue.

Staff from the city engineer’s office and the sanitation center were also tapped to clear the roads of debris to hasten the restoration of power in the city.

In another development, Atienza ordered Manila city administrator Gaudencio Nable to restore billboards until a new and uniform ordinance was passed by the city council regulating outdoor advertisements.