Residents wade through knee to waist-deep flood along P. Florentino Street in Quezon City on July 24, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

MANILA (2nd UPDATE) — Metro Manila on Wednesday declared a state of calamity due to typhoon Carina, which spawned widespread floods.

Twelve out of 17 cities and towns in Metro Manila had agreed to declare a state of calamity, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos told reporters. He said they mayors of the 5 other cities were absent from the meeting as they continue to respond to the effects of Typhoon Carina in their respective localities.

The Metro Manila Council approved the state of calamity declaration that would allow the local government to access to additional funds for calamity response and impose a price freeze on basic goods.  

"What is important here is makakakilos nang husto lalo na ang mga nangangailangan," Abalos said after a meeting with Metro Manila mayors.

"They need to move fast," he said.

Quezon City — the country’s largest city — is among those heavily hit by the floods brought by Typhoon Carina, Mayor Joy Belmote said, noting that the city is already supporting 22,000 evacuees in 154 evacuation centers.

"Mayroon po tayong evacuation centers talaga pero napuno na po ito kaya napilitan na po kaming hiramin ang mga simbahan, mga covered courts," she said.

READ: Floods submerge villages as Typhoon Carina brings heavy rains in Philippines

So far, 30 roads in Quezon City are impassable, while 80 out of its 143 barangays are affected by flooding, she said.

Navotas is also facing challenges as 80 percent of the area is already submerged in flood, Mayor John Ray Tiangco said.

"Malaki ang problema natin dito dahil bago pa dumating ang bagyo ay nasira ang major flood gate natin dito," he said.

"High tide pa lang po ay problema na natin yan, ngayon sumabay pa yung bagyo, habagat at non stop rains," he added.

While Pasig, Makati and Taguig are not as affected as other cities, local chief executives in these areas have also supported placing the capital region under a state of calamity.

"Okay pa naman po kaya pa naman po pero kung mag declare ng state of calamity very welcome po yan para magamit din po yung pondo," Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto said.

"Sa deklarasyon po ng kami po ay susuporta. Ito ay walang duda na makakatulong sa mga local government units na labis na naapektuhan sa tuloy-tuloy na masamang panahon," said Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano.

"Very, very minimal po ang epekto ng bagyo [sa Makati pero] I will support the call for declaring the state of calamity," Makati Mayor Abby Binay said, noting that her city sent rescue units to Caloocan and would deploy some of their rubber boats to aid Quezon City.

LOOK: Metro Manila churches submerged in floods due to habagat, Carina

Four other towns in Oriental Mindoro, Cotabato and Davao Occidental have also placed their respective jurisdictions under a state of calamity due to Typhoon Carina.

The province of Cavite is now also under a state of calamity.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is collating a list of all areas that have been placed under a state of calamity, Abalos said. 

"Everything is very fluid. Every hour nagbabago ang mga numero," he said.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has also been tapped to help local governments in evacuation efforts after several cities reported that some individuals refused to leave their homes in low-lying areas and danger zones. 

READ: Stronger Carina may become super typhoon, La Mesa Dam nears overflow

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