Mayor cites some ‘hard lessons’ for Marikina

Mayor cites some ‘hard lessons’ for Marikina

naawa ako sa taga Marikina lalo na sa Tumana. Madami akong kaibigan doon.

No more excuses and favors
By DJ Yap
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 05:12:00 10/08/2009

Filed Under: Ondoy, Flood, Disasters (general), Government, Local authorities, House building

MANILA, Philippines—As the struggle goes on to restore normalcy in flood-devastated Marikina City, Mayor Marides Fernando has learned some “hard lessons.”

Lesson No. 1: No more excuses and favors for riverside squatters living in danger zones.

akala ko ba walang squatters sa Marikina? so meron pala! palagi na lang sinasabi ni bayani at asawa nya na walang squatters sa marikina. bakit kung tuwing panahon ng election at kailangan nyo ng boto eh tawag sa mga squatters eh urban poor, resettled poor, etc. Teka sabi ng kaibigan ko sa Tumana Marikina, ang Tumana daw ay dating squatters colony tapos binigyan ng titulo ni bayani fernando noong mayor pa siya. at sa panahon ni marides fernando ginawa pang barangay ang Tumana.

ang mga taga provedent village bakit hindi paalisin kasi nasa danger zone. ang SM Marikina at Riverbanks mall(pamamay ari ng kamag anak ni BF... father-in-law daw) ay nasa danger zone. so dapat i demolish ang riverbanks mall at SM marikina

“This time around we’ll be very strict. I think now people have no reason to resist when we ask them to move out of these hazard areas,” she told the Inquirer on Tuesday.

Lesson No. 2: There should be a minimum height standard for the construction of residential and commercial buildings, depending on how elevated the place is.

This, Fernando said, would help prevent cases of people drowning inside their homes.

Lesson No. 3: Policies against illegal parking will be more firmly observed.
Ask Jojo Binay and Mapsa for help on that hahaha

“Even just one car blocking the road can impede rescue workers from reaching their destination,” she said.

Lesson No. 4: More rubber boats and rescue equipment should be in stock for emergency situations.
ooopppss. Mayor san napunta yung calamity fund.

“The rescuers had to scramble for equipment so we need more of these prepared,” Fernando said.

Losses could reach P10B

The mayor said the city government would more thoroughly reflect on these lessons learned in the coming days in order to deal with catastrophes similar to that brought by Tropical Storm “Ondoy” (international codename: Ketsana) on Sept. 26.

“All our efforts are still focused on the rescue, relief and rehabilitation of the affected families,” she said.

Of the 300 deaths, 67 were from the Marikina area.

Fernando estimated property losses could reach as high as P10 billion. “Ondoy wrecked barges, footbridges, computer equipment at City Hall, medical equipment in hospitals.”

She said some 2,000 people remained in about 10 evacuation centers. Officials had moved them from schools to barangay halls so classes could resume.

Some 1,000 residing in riverside communities would have to be relocated, possibly in Biñan, Laguna, said the wife of Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chair Bayani Fernando, who as a mayor developed the backward town into thriving city. [Biñan is the worst hit among the lakeshore towns in Laguna; see banner story on Page A1-Ed.]

Gargantuan task

Marikina Rep. Del de Guzman said those living at “Riverside A and B” in Barangay Fortune would be better off moving elsewhere.

“I don’t have the power, but I could convince them not to return there,” he said.

Most of the city’s efforts are directed at cleaning muck and debris.

Fernando said workers were using a city property at Barangay Nangka as a temporary dump for garbage, mostly beds, wood scraps, couches and sofa beds, and even appliances like refrigerators damaged beyond repair.

The task is nothing less than gargantuan. “Garbage collected in every four houses is equivalent to one dump truck,” Fernando said. With a report from Leila B. Salaverria

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20091008-228950/Mayor-cites-some-hard-lessons-for-Marikina