(UPDATE, 1:35 a.m. At 11:33 am, Sunday, Marikina raised the second alarm as the river’s water level climbed to 16.4 meters. The City Government is on full alert with emergency response teams on standby and ready to respond when needed. Marikina City Rep. Marcy Teodoro and Mayor Maan Teodoro continue to monitor development on the river.)
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MARIKINA CITY, August 09, 2026 (SDN) — A few minutes after 8 a.m. today, Sunday, Mayor Maan Teodoro said the city has no flooding yet in its barangays (villages).
She made the assurance during her interview on Prime TV DZMM Radio, saying the evacuation of residents in a few barangay was pre-emptive as the evacuees did not want to be caught when flood waters already entered their houses.
She said even low-lying areas known to be flood-prone like Barangays Tumana and Provident were still flood-free “as of this time.” She was interviewed for over five minutes early morning starting around 8:15.
“Talagang naghahanda lang kasi sila, sanay na kasi sila, pag meron (baha) ayaw na nilang mahuli na nagmamadali sila o kapag pumasok na sa kanilang bahay ang tubig, mahirapan pa sila, gabi na kaya ayaw nilang manganib pa ang kanilang mga pamilya,” the mayor explained.
(Translation: They were just preparing as they are already used to it, if there’s flood they don’t want to be caught rushing or the waters had already entered their houses. It was already evening, they don’t want to their families to be endangered.)
Asked about why despite the continuous rain induced by Habagat (Monsoon), there’s no case of flooding in the city yet, Teodoro said this is because in past months of rain they monitored where there was surface flooding or gutter-deep flooding.
“So, we cleaned those areas. We really assigned declogging team who go to areas that are problematic, they cleaned them. We also received report from our townmates about their drainage that gets flooded often even with light rain. Those are immediately attended to,” Teodoro pointed out.
She said the city’s flood control activities are being done year-round. “And so iI think this is the fruit of the sacrifices of our operatives. This previous Habagat our creeks swelled, but our river maintains its level at 12 meters. So, those were the ones we thoroughly cleaned, and the creeks were made deeper.”
She added that tributaries of the city’s creeks are also being addressed.
Marikina deploys, pre-positioned emergency rescue assets
Teodoro emphasized that the local government has an ordinance that prohibits throwing garbage on the waterways, and imposes finds on anyone who throw garbage on the waterways.
“Marikina residents already know the importance of protecting the environment, they are disciplined and that it is already instilled in us,” the mayor said.
During the interview the water level was in its First Alarm at 15 meters; 18 meters water level raises mandatory evacuation for residents in low-lying areas.
At the end of the interview she said the water level in Marikina River was already going down.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, August 8, the local government readied for any eventuality as rain from the Habagat or Southwest Monsoon continue to pound Metro Manila.
Teodoro ordered the deployment of rescue boats, ambulances, as well as as other assets needed in many parts of the city.
She ordered 20 boats deployed with two each in Bayabas; Kingsway; Bulelak, Malanday; Homeowners Drive; Mountain View, Sta. Elena; Tanong Gym; Zenaida Homes, Sto Niño; and IVC Safety Center.
Evacuation tents, food packs, and hygiene kits were also pre-positioned in the city’s major evacuation sites, such as Conception Integrated School, Malanday Elementary School, Nangka Elementary School, H. Bautista Elementary School.
And there were central kitchens already established and ready for operation: Manotoc Gym, Sto. Niño for District I, and at Nangka Elementary School for District II. — EDD K. Usman (√)