Marikina River water level subsides, DSWD tends to 'Pedring' victims

Marikina River’s water level gradually subsided over the past several hours, according to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) through messages sent via its official Twitter account. The water level of the river has fallen by 1.93 meters from the Tuesday late afternoon (5:40 p.m.) level of 19.33 meters above sea level, to 17.4 meters as of 2:29 a.m. Evacuation alarm level for the residents near the river is at 17 meters. The Marikina City government posts updates on river water levels on its website. During the Ondoy floods of September 2009, Marikina River swelled to 23 meters above sea level.

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said, via various messages posted on its official Twitter account, that Typhoon “Pedring" affected at least 12,609 people in the Cordillera region and 42,672 people in Albay province. The DSWD regional office in the Cagayan Valley said 475 houses were totally damaged in Echague, Isabela while 775 homes were partially destroyed. The DSWD said it has P4.4 million in standby funds and P57.96 million worth of relief supplies deployed in all its field offices in areas where “Pedring" wreaked havoc. — ELR, GMA News