The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Friday sent 605 emergency crews in Northern Luzon to carry out repair works with the possible occurrence of a landfall brought about by tropical storm “Isang” in the region.

DPWH Undersecretary Romeo Momo, in charge of Luzon Operation, said they will be deployed particularly in the critical sections along Manila North Road while other road networks in Tarlac and Pangasinan are being monitored.

"As pronounced by Pagasa the predicted path will be passing through majority of Region 1 that's why we are now focusing in the monitoring of road situation along Manila North Road and also in Daang Maharlika Highway in Region 2," Momo said.

He added that regional directors of Regions 1, 2, 3, and Cordillera Administrative Region are already been ordered to immediately deploy maintenance crews to respond to emergency road situations.

Other DPWH personnel mobilized were mechanics who will give assistance to motorists and dump trucks to transport stranded motorists.

DPWH has also sent 112 equipment that can be used by its concerned personnel in Northern Luzon. Its maintenance crews are equipped with chain saw for immediate removal of possible fallen trees along the road network.

Apart from the Manila North Road, DPWH Region 1 Director Mariano Alquiza said they are monitoring the road network passing through the swamp areas in Malasiqui,

Lingayen and Dagupan in Pangasinan and the catch basin areas in Moncada and Paniqui Tarlac.

"The DPWH Region 1 Maintenance Division since Friday are now working round the clock to assure the continuous monitoring of our road network," Alquiza said.

In Malabon, threatened by more floodings induced by the heavy rains brought by "Isang" resulting in the suspension of classes in Metro Manila, barangay executives moved to mitigate the problem.

Malabon barangay officials, who earlier sought assistance from Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, chief of the President Management Staff, to help in the flood proble, pooled their resources with the engineering office of Malabon and the Mega Flood Control Project officials to address the floodings.

In a meeting called by the Flood Control Technical Committee, headed by Engr. Eddie Torres, most of the barangay executives asked additional sandbags to reinforce river walls as others sought to keep the floodgates open during extreme high tides and heavy rains.

At yesterday noon, the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP) or the number coding scheme was lifted due to nonstop rains brought by tropical storm “Isang” that submerged many parts of Metro Manila.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando ordered the lifting of the UVVRP following the suspension of classes and work in government offices in Metro Manila.

Fernando said the UVVRP suspension would provide extra mobility to the motoring public during this time of inclement weather.

Despite heavy rains caused by typhoon “Isang,” areas around Pasig City which were usually prone to floods were spared from it, according to Eng. Minwena P. Gamila, head of the Pasig City Flood Control office.

She said that some of her personnel made the rounds of the city but found not a single area or barangay submerged in flood waters. The engineer attributed this to improved drainage system. She said because of the improvement of Pasig City’s drainage system, areas such as Barangay Pinabuhatan and Barangay Manggahan, which were prone to floods, were spared.

In Taguig City, more than 130 individuals were evacuated due to rising flood waters brought about by “Isang.”

The 130 families from Purok 1,2 and 3 of Barangay New Lower Bicutan, Taguig were evacuated at R.P. Elementary School as flood waters reached as high as one-meter.

Mayor Sigfrido Tinga mobilized a team composed of the Office of the Social Welfare and Development, City Engineer’s Office, and the Public Order and Safety Office to immediately evacuate the 130 individuals at the evacuation center late Thursday night and Friday morning.

In San Mateo, Rizal, rescue operatives are still in search for the missing nine-year-old boy believed carried away by the strong current at the height of the onslaught of “Isang.”

As this developed five families were reportedly hit by landslides while 307 familes were evacuated.

Supt. Ronaldo Mendoza, chief of police, identified the victim as Arnold Julian, 9, of Sitio Buntong Palay, Purok-2, Brgy., Silangan, San Mateo, Rizal.

Kagawad Elenor Sison,of Barangay Silangan told police that at 8:30 a.m. Julian was seen being carried away by strong current of water at the riverside of Buntong Palay along the boundary of Barangay Sto. Nino. (With reports by Ed Mahilum, Anna Liza Villas, Francis Wakefield, Jean Fernando, and Madelyn Dominguez)