MMDA: Number coding still in effect except in Manila, San Juan

The number coding of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority will remain in effect Friday, even after heavy rains and floods hit parts of the metropolis Thursday. MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino noted that traffic may still be slow in major roads due to potholes and other damage caused by Thursday night's rains and floods. "Meron po (ang coding), walang coding sa (Manila at San Juan) dahil Araw ng Maynila at sa San Juan deklaradong pista opisyal (We will implement the number coding system today except in Manila and San Juan. Manila is marking its foundation day while San Juan celebrates the feast day of its patron saint)," Tolentino said in an interview on dzBB radio. Tolentino said that while roads in Metro Manila are passable as of Friday morning, there are reports of potholes and other damage. "Pag ganito, expect natin babagal ang takbo ng sasakyan at kaunting trapik (We can expect vehicles to run slowly and more traffic jams if this is the case)," he said. He also said the MMDA continues to monitor the threat of flooding particularly in Marikina and Quezon Cities. In Marikina, he said they are monitoring Tumana River, while in Quezon City, they are keeping an eye on Talayan Creek. Also, he said they are monitoring the water level at the San Juan River. On the other hand, Tolentino asked for understanding from the public over the floods in Metro Manila Thursday night. He said the level of rainfall was unusual and near the levels of tropical cyclone Ondoy (Ketsana) in 2009. In 2009, he said Ondoy dumped rains of up to 56 mm, while Thursday night's rain reached 44.4 mm. "Sana maunawaan ng kababayan natin ang pag-ulan at kahinaan ng drainage system natin (We hope our residents will understand the rains compared to the relatively slow rate of drainage by our drainage systems)," he said. Evacuation centers Families in Quezon City and Marikina City spent Thursday night in evacuation centers. In Marikina City, some 1,470 families stayed in schools and gymnasiums set up to serve as evacuation centers, radio dzBB's Glen Juego reported. Rescue teams also stationed rubber boats in flood-prone areas such as Tumana, Nangka, Provident Village, and Industrial Valley Complex. In Quezon City, dzBB's Paulo Santos reported more than 121 families in low-lying areas stayed in covered courts. Residents in Bagong Silangan village voluntarily left their homes to evacuation centers for fear water from the nearby Tumana River may affect them. — RSJ, GMA News