The local government of Cainta, Rizal, has started dredging creeks and other waterways in the town to prevent flooding during the rainy season.

According to Cainta municipal administrator Keith Nieto, Vista Verde, Green Park, Filinvest, Brookside, Park Place and Village East were severely hit by strong typhoons last year.

“We persevered in deepening our creeks to catch the abundant rain from above. This is now its current state,” Nieto said.

“Before the end of the year, three large pumps were used simultaneously to push the water to the floodway at the speed of 1 cubic meter per second,” he added.

The local government has procured its own heavy equipment, such as backhoes and payloaders, instead of hiring contractors to save on cleanup costs. It has also purchased vacuum machines to be used for declogging drainages in the town.

Meanwhile, in Rodriguez, Rizal, two suspects were arrested for allegedly robbing two convenience stores on Friday.

The suspects were apprehended by the police in separate operations after allegedly robbing convenience stores in Barangay San Isidro and Barangay San Jose.

Store employees immediately reported the incidents to the Rodriguez Municipal Police Station, which promptly conducted an investigation, resulting in the identification of the suspects.

The local police launched a manhunt operation that led to the arrest of the two suspects, identified as alias Justo and alias Kulot, both residents of the town.