No ‘massive’ flooding, says MMDA

Like the scale of electoral fraud, it wasn’t massive, only instances confined to certain areas.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said yesterday there were no reports of heavy flooding in Metro Manila despite the continuous rains brought about by Typhoon Frank.

"I am glad that while we experienced non-stop downpours, we did not receive any report of massive flooding in Metro Manila," MMDA Undersecretary Cesar Lacuna said.

But while the floodwaters easily subsided, MMDA-Traffic Operations Center (TOC) Executive Director Angelito Vergel de Dios said the flow of traffic slowed down.

Lacuna said only the usual flood waters along Dimasalang in Manila and areas in Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela (Camanava) were reported.

"But the flood problem in these low-lying areas cannot be easily solved. Besides, in the Camanava area, flood water only rises during high tide and will eventually subside," he said.

However, Lacuna admitted they cannot use yesterday’s experience as the proper barometer to determine if their year-round effort to clean the major waterways was indeed successful.

He said there is also a need to improve and widen the age-old drainage system in Metro Manila and continue with the desiltation of rivers and other major water arteries.

Meanwhile, Vergel de Dios said traffic significantly slowed down in major thoroughfares because of three major traffic problems, namely: poor visibility, slippery roads and numerous road potholes.

"There were no torrential rains, but sometimes a drizzle could be more dangerous to motorists because its the mud mixed with rain that makes the roads more slippery. Whereas, if it was raining heavily, the mud would simply be washed away," the MMDA-TOC chief added.