President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Saturday visited the 162 families comprising 538 individuals, who are taking shelter at the Tanza National High School in Navotas City since their homes were flooded due to heavy rains this week.

The evacuees expressed their gratitude as President Marcos interacted with them and listened to their pleas for help.

President Marcos ordered the immediate repair of the broken navigational gate of the North Navotas Pumping Station (NNPS) to prevent further flooding in low-lying barangays in Navotas and Malabon during high tide and heavy rains.

During the President’s visit, the affected residents received food packs, sleeping kits, and hygiene kits from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

“Presidente Marcos, hihingi lang po kami ng kaunting tulong. Maraming, maraming salamat po sa inyo na natulungan ninyo po kami,” said one of the evacuees, Rosalinda Alejo, 68, resident of Tanza.

Alejo, a married woman with five children, whose husband works as a garbage collector, said residents like her could not access food and water supplies due to the high tide and flooding.

Edwin Bernal, 49, with seven children, said he could not work as a “padyak” (tribike) driver due to the floods.

“Siyempre hihingi kami ng tulong sa Presidente. Nawalan kami ng hanapbuhay dahil sa kalamidad. Ang tubig dito hanggang dibdib,” Bernal said.

Roberto Cruz, 57, a father of four, who works as a butcher, said the flooding has not subsided due to the damaged navigational gate.

“Sana mapagawa na yung gate para di na magbaha. Sana si Presidente Marcos ay matulungan po kami,” said Cruz.

The evacuees said floodwaters in their homes reached chest-deep since July 21 as high tide exacerbated the rains. | PND