President Arroyo gave all concerned government agencies a pat on the back yesterday for swiftly helping Filipinos survive a storm, described as worse than Hurricane Katrina that swamped areas of the United States four years ago.

The President at the same time asked all government personnel to remain on alert as the nation braces for another weather disturbance that may hit the country this week.

On the second day of the onslaught of storm Ondoy, Mrs. Arroyo convened an emergency meeting of the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City to check on government rescue and relief operations amid reports that many families were displaced by floods.

The President praised the military, police, social welfare units, and local governments for their quick and round-the-clock assistance to flood-stricken victims in the National Capital Region and nearby provinces.

Mrs. Arroyo noted that the country endured heavy floods brought by Ondoy, which she claimed dumped nearly double the rainfall unleashed by the devastating Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans and other US counties on August 29, 2005."We congratulate everybody who was able to do everything so fast yesterday (Saturday)," she said in her remarks, as she listened to the reports of the disaster and weather authorities at the NDCC. "We had more rainfall than Katrina yesterday," she added.

Weather specialist Prisco Nilo, during the NDCC meeting, told the President that the highest rainfall was recorded in Quezon City at 455 millimeters for 24 hours, much higher than Katrina which was only 250mm for 24 hours.

When informed by Nilo that a cluster of clouds hovering over the Pacific may develop into a new low pressure area, the President issued another storm alert to minimize casualties and damage to property.

"Everybody must be on the alert. In the next four days, there will be no bringing down of the alert level," the President said.

The President likewise expressed gratitude to the United States for sending military equipment to aid local forces in the rescue and relief operations in storm-battered Luzon. She also thanked the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), several private companies and non-government agencies for providing relief goods to storm victims.

Meantime, she directed the Department of Transportation and Communications to continue the 24-hour operation of the Metro Rail transits in Metro Manila to help stranded commuters.

Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza told the President that they will charge a flat rate of P10 to passengers to any destinations.