By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA, Philippines — Floodwaters in Metro Manila are receding faster than in previous years, with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) citing the shorter duration of flooding as a measurable indication that mitigation efforts are gaining ground.
MMDA General Manager Undersecretary Nicolas Torre III gave this assessment in his appearance as a guest at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum, where he discussed the agency’s continuing efforts to address flooding and improve the capital region’s drainage system.
Torre cited the area around Aurora Boulevard and Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City as an example, saying floodwaters that previously took between 18 and 24 hours to disappear have recently receded in about five hours.
“During the recent rainfall that caused flooding there, the rain stopped at 2 p.m., and by 7 p.m. the road was already passable because the water had already receded,” Torre said.
He said the MMDA uses three key indicators in determining whether flood-control measures are working: the extent of the area affected by flooding, the depth of standing water and the speed at which floodwaters recede.
The goal, Torre explained, is not only to reduce the areas affected by flooding but also to keep water from reaching levels that make major roads impassable and to ensure that flooded areas recover as quickly as possible.
He said improvements have likewise been observed in Camanava, covering Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela, areas that have long been vulnerable to severe flooding.
Torre attributed the progress to closer coordination between the MMDA, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and local government units.
He said the agencies have been examining the design and capacity of existing waterways, drainage systems and pumping stations to ensure that rainwater is properly channeled toward major waterways and ultimately discharged into Manila Bay and Laguna Lake.
The MMDA, DPWH and local governments have also revisited Metro Manila’s drainage master plan in an effort to synchronize flood-control projects and mitigation measures across the region.
Torre said DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon had ordered a reassessment of the drainage master plan, noting that many existing systems are outdated and may need to be expanded.
Additional pumping stations may also be required in areas where existing facilities are insufficient.
But Torre and San Juan City Mayor and Metro Manila Council Chairperson Francis Zamora stressed during the discussion that infrastructure alone cannot solve Metro Manila’s flooding problem.
Zamora said local solid-waste management programs must also be harmonized because upgraded drainage systems and pumping stations could be rendered ineffective if waterways are clogged with garbage.
“If garbage continues to block these waterways, the water simply will not flow properly,” Zamora said.
He urged residents to practice greater discipline in disposing of their waste and to stop using rivers, creeks and other waterways as dumping grounds.
The discussions at Kapihan sa Manila Bay underscored the need for a two-pronged approach to Metro Manila’s perennial flooding: stronger and better-coordinated infrastructure on one hand, and stricter public discipline on waste disposal on the other.
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