Trucks deployed to aid stranded commuters as heavy rains cause floods in NCR

Thousands of motorists and commuters in Metro Manila were stranded Monday evening as non-stop and heavy rainfall caused floods in many areas, prompting the weather bureau to advise residents in low-lying districts to prepare for possible evacuation.

Students and office employees were stranded for hours on passenger jeeps and buses. Some took pedicabs whose drivers waded through floodwaters.

Traffic in Manila was snarled in many thoroughfares, with some irate drivers desperately trying to find routes that were not flooded.

Waist-high floods were reported at the Araneta Avenue area in Quezon City, C3 in Caloocan City, and some parts of Mandaluyong City, according to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). These streets were not passable to all types of vehicles.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council on Monday night deployed nine 6x6 military trucks to parts of Metro Manila to help stranded commuters.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte tweeted the trucks were initially sent to the Quezon City and the CAMANAVA (Caloocan Malabon Navotas Valenzuela) areas.

In Navotas City, the city government said trucks are going around major streets offering free rides.

Rescue teams were sent to Roxas and Santo Domingo districts for residents that need to be evacuated, MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino said in an interview with ANC.

Earlier, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration warned of heavy rain until at least Tuesday.

The announcement prompted many schools to cancel afternoon and evening classes on Monday, and local governments in metro Manila to suspend classes at all levels Tuesday.

According to tweets from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), city governments and the government-run PTV television, flooded areas in Metro Manila on Monday night included the following:

Manila:
- 8:17 p.m.: Recto Rizal Ave. in front of Philippine Rabbit, half-tire deep, not passable to light vehicles as of 8:14 p.m.
- 11:35 p.m.: R. Papa Rizal Ave Caloocan city. 37 inches, not passable to light vehicles

Caloocan City:
- 7:09 p.m.: Samson Road, Puregold Caloocan, 32 inches, not passable to all types of vehicles as of 7:04 p.m.
- 7:48 p.m.: Bonifacio Monument Circle towards McArthur; 25 inches, not passable to light vehicles
- 7:52 p.m.: C3 A. Bonifacio Waist deep, not passable to all types of vehicles

Mandaluyong City:
- 9:16 p.m.: Maysilo Circle Mandaluyong waist deep, not passable to all vehicles

Quezon City:
- 7:39 p.m.: Araneta Ave. Maria Clara; waist deep, not passable to all types of vehicles
- 7:43 p.m.: Biak na Bato Quezon Ave. Araneta, half-tire, not passable to light vehicles
- 7:44 p.m.: Elliptical Road Kalayaan, half-tire, not passable to light vehicles
- 7:50 p.m.: EDSA Balintawak northbound/MRT station knee-deep, not passable to light vehicles
- 7:52 p.m.: Commonwealth Ferria Rd. Eastbound towards Fairview, not passable to light Vehicles
- 8:11 p.m.: Quezon Ave., Araneta northbound and southbound, tire-deep, not passable to light vehicles
- 8:24 p.m.: E. Rodriguez Trinity to Delos Santos not passable to all types of vehicles

Makati City:
- 8:15 p.m.: along Dela Rosa from South Superhighway to Pasong Tamo, not passable at 20 inches

Malabon City:
- 6:45 p.m.: Tinajeros Dizon Ext. Aracity Malabon; knee-deep

Navotas City:
- 6:38 p.m