Members of the Brgy. Jesus Dela Peña DRRMO rescue residents in Provident Village in Marikina City amid floods due to rainfall brought by the southwest monsoon, enhanced by Typhoon Carina, on July 24, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — A state of calamity declaration makes access to resources easier, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said as the whole capital region was placed under a state of calamity.

“Yung mga access to funds na kinakailangang aksyunan ng mayor mas mabilis to, yung mga procedure na hindi na ganun kahigpit. Kailangan umaksyon kaagad dito,” Abalos said.

“But what is paramount here are sensitive areas like the Camanava and Marikina at that. Kung talagang evacuation dapat magkatulungan,” he added.

READ: Metro Manila declares state of calamity due to Typhoon Carina

WATCH: Residents forced to evacuate as Typhoon Carina floods Metro Manila

Even the use of public schools as possible evacuation area is also encouraged, he stressed.

“Iba ito eh, iba ito. This is calamity. Siguro naman mauunawaan ng ating mga kababayan, kalamidad ito eh. Importante rito, tulungan ang lahat,”Abalos said.

Metro Manila and other parts of the country still suffered a heavy blow despite the DILG’s preparations and a number of advisories released through “Oplan: Listo Program” to prepare every local government unit on the impact of Carina.

“Ito pong Oplan: Listo... ito po ay ibinababa namin sa lahat ng mga gobernador, mayor, barangay captain, kung ano ang gagawin nila on the ground. Kung sila ba ay mage-evacuate, sila ba’y magi-ipon ng mga tubigm etc, etc. Lahat po yan ay tsine-checklist para sila po ay guided,” Abalos explained.

Local government units in turn, have taken the lead to addres the effects of Carina, he said.

In Region III according to Abalos, among those reported include Bulacan’s 345 individuals or 87 families and in Bataan, 387 individuals evacuated amid the effects of typhoon Carina.

Interviewed after the emergency meeting at the NDRRMC headquarters, Abalos said that many called him up to recommend that Metro Manila be placed under a state of calamity.

He will also check other regions experiencing heavy floods, Abalos said.

“Siguro yung mga karatig-pook aalamin na rin namin. Kamukha ng Bulacan, Bulacan,  part of Pampanga, CALABARZON na sinasabi, titingnan na rin natin... what is important is we act fast on this... para makapag-access agad (sa resources),” Abalos said.

Access to resources like the use of rubber boats like in Marikina for example is urgent, the Secretary said.

The government also needs to prepare for any eventuality in case rain continues, specifically, on where to bring people residing in flooded areas and how to distribute relief goods systematically.

With the magnitude of the problem, one instruction given to him by the President according to Abalos, is to coordinate with the National Power Corporation to check the status of dams.

“Kung magre-release sila dahil malakas na nga ang ulan, magre-release ka pa ng tubig, naku, grabe ang baha nyan. So, let’s expect for this. Makikipag-coordinate ako sa NAPOCOR ngayon... itong mga listahan ng mga dams na ito. Coordinate with governors, down the line with all LGUs para mapaghandaan din ito, aside from those na nagpakawala na ng tubig,” Abalos said.

Accordng to Marcelino Vllaguerte, Officer-in-Charge of PAGASA, “moderate to heavy rains” can still be expected on Thursday and “moderate to heavy rains” on July 26 in Metro Manila and Bulacan.

Typhoon Carina is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) Thursday morning.

According to the NDRRMC, the combined effects of southwest monsoon, typhoon Butchoy and typhoon Carina, have affected a total of 882,861 individuals (183,464) from all parts of the country.

The NDRRMC also recorded seven deaths: 4 in Region 9 and one each in Regions 10, 11 and BARMM.

Typhoon Carina meanwhile left 175 damaged houses.

Metro Manila mayors earlier agreed to place the entire Metro Manila under a state of calamity.