Quezon city: Mayor Joy Belmonte cited the city government's improved disaster response in the recent bad weather and adverse effects of tropical cyclones Crising, Dante, and Emong, and the southwest monsoon or 'habagat.' In a media briefing at the QC Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) on Friday, Belmonte said there is still room for improvement in the city's response efforts, and that the city government is eyeing long-term solutions to flooding and mass evacuation challenges.
According to Philippines News Agency, Belmonte expressed satisfaction with the current disaster response, comparing it favorably to the city's efforts during Typhoon Carina in July 2024. She cited a report from QCDRRMO head Bianca Perez, which showed a significant reduction in emergency rescue calls from 864 during Carina to 158 recently. Perez attributed this improvement to proactive evacuations by the city government, which reduced the number of families needing rescue during the floods.
Belmonte highlighted the importance of early evacuation, noting that the 800 calls from the previous year indicated a failure to convince residents to leave their homes early, putting both residents and rescuers at risk. This time, early evacuations reduced the need for rescue operations, which Belmonte sees as a success, though she acknowledged the need for zero casualties in future incidents.
The city reported three deaths and two missing persons due to flooding, with Perez noting that over 37,000 residents from 142 barangays were evacuated to 80 centers. Perez acknowledged the challenges posed by Quezon City's size but emphasized the success in evacuating residents before the worst of the rains.
In response to the state of calamity, the city activated its PHP485.9 million Quick Response Fund (QRF), part of the PHP1.6 billion disaster budget for 2025. Belmonte explained that the QRF would be used for emergency repairs, infrastructure restoration, flood waste collection, and purchasing medicines to prevent diseases like leptospirosis.
Looking ahead, Belmonte emphasized the need for better evacuation planning and flood control. A task force led by City Administrator Michael Alimurung is investigating the root causes of district-specific flooding. Belmonte also supports QC 1st District Rep. Arjo Atayde's call for a Metro Manila-wide drainage master plan and aims to improve evacuation centers to meet international standards.
Belmonte articulated a vision for evacuation centers that reduce suffering and ease residents' apprehensions, with infrastructure projects doubling as evacuation facilities. She stressed the importance of resilience, adaptability, and maintaining a people-centric approach amidst climate change challenges, promising to provide the best service to Quezon City residents.
