Quezon City has officially declared a state of calamity in response to the aftermath of Typhoon Kristine.
In a special session held by the QC City Council on Friday at 10 a.m., the decision was made to allow swift access to emergency funds for recovery.
“Nag declare kaninang 10am ang lungsod ng state of calamity after the recommendation ng QC DRRMO dahil meron tayong mga nabalitaan na nabagsak na mga puno at debris na nagwash out at retaining walls na natumba,” Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said, explaining that the declaration follows a recommendation from the QC Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office due to fallen trees, scattered debris, and damaged retaining walls.
Belmonte noted that this state of calamity enables the city to tap into its quick response fund, representing 30 percent of the DRRMO budget, though a portion has already been utilized in response to Typhoon Carina. Fortunately, she added, no lives were lost in the storm, but infrastructure repairs and additional garbage collection trucks are needed to handle the debris.
According to local authorities, over 2,000 families are now seeking shelter at evacuation centers after the storm affected numerous communities. However, despite evacuation efforts in flood-prone areas, some residents remain hesitant to leave their homes.
In Barangay Bagong Silangan, for instance, while many neighbors living near the San Mateo River have evacuated, Mang Maximino Dela Trinidad has stayed behind. “Pag umalis kami baka magnanakaw na ang tumira sa amin,” he explained, concerned for the security of his property.
As of Friday, the current along the San Mateo River remains strong, posing a continued risk for nearby residents.