Storm Gorio causes flooding in Metro Manila and flak for QC vice-mayor
HEAVY RAINS in the last two days brought about by tropical storm Gorio left many parts of Metro Manila flooded yesterday and one local government official soaked in public flak for failing to make a timely announcement on the cancellation of classes.
Gorio, the 7th storm to enter the country this year, did not actually make landfall but it enhanced the rain from the southwest monsoon.
The national government suspended work in the National Capital Region yesterday effective 1 p.m.
Several local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila, as early as Wednesday evening, already declared a suspension of classes for Thursday as the automatic suspension rules could not be applied based on the storm warning signals raised by weather bureau PAGASA. Quezon City, parts of which were flooded, was the last to declare a suspension.
Quezon City Vice-Mayor Maria Josefina “Joy” G. Belmonte, who was acting as mayor, did not call for a suspension before students had to be on their way or already in school.
After receiving backlash, mainly through social media, and seeing the state of the city, Ms. Belmonte finally made the announcement and publicly apologized.
“This time I welcome all the hate and the vileness of your messages. I truly deserve it… For the first time, I truly appreciate all of you for your nasty comments. Truly deserved. I bow to you and I admit to my weaknesses and shortcomings in this situation,” Ms. Belmonte said.
“Now it is time to make amends to our children and their parents. It’s time to step up for them. They deserve much better than me. They deserve a better leader,” she added.
The spokesperson of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), Mina B. Marasigan, came to Ms. Belmonte’s defense and said the incident underscores the need for better community coordination.
“I think this issue on the suspension of classes highlights the need for the LGUs and community leaders to step up the info(rmation) campaign,” Ms. Marasigan said in a text message to reporters.
“[W]e should not only depend to the mayors. Let us call to strengthen the community participation, especially the schools on this,” she added.
The NDRRMC, as well as the police force and the Department of Social Welfare and Development, gave assurance that emergency response units have been activated. — Jil Danielle M. Caro
