Malabon, Valenzuela suspend classes due to floods

MANILA, Philippines - At least 11 of 32 barangays in Valenzuela City and five of 21 villages in Malabon City remain flooded yesterday following heavy rains, prompting officials to suspend classes.

Malabon City information chief Bong Padua said six of the schools in Malabon suspended classes indefinitely, depending on whether floodwaters have receded. They are located in Barangays Dampalit, Panghulo, and Tonsuya.

He said dikes, particularly in Barangay Dampalit, were breached at the height of the downpour Sunday, but only five barangays remain flooded.

Authorities estimate the area surrounded by the breached dikes at around 10 to 20 hectares. The biggest “hole” in the dikes was measured at around 10 meters.

Padua said 70 percent of the city is relatively “flood-free” because of efforts, albeit limited and temporary, by the local government to remedy the perennial flooding.

He said that the city engineer’s office reported that several streets in the city have been raised, some about six feet above the former road levels.

Padua said the city engineering office is using sandbags to plug the breached dikes, with the help of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.

The residents in the flooded areas, Padua said, continue to blame the DPWH for neglecting to complete the Camanava megadike flood control project, touted to be the solution to the flooding in Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela since it was begun some 10 years ago.

Malabon Mayor Canuto Oreta “is fed up with the DPWH’s alibis and excuses and has directed the release of local funds to remedy the situation in his city,” Padua said.

In Valenzuela, city public information chief Ahna Mejia said the schools that suspended classes yesterday are all in the city’s low-lying northern area, making it a natural catch basin.

She said the schools are in Malinta, Polo, Balangkas, Wawang Pulo, Pasolo, Dalandanan, Tagalag, Arkong Bato and Malanday.

“We are ready with the needed rescue equipment, if needed, including designated evacuation centers and enough relief goods,” Mejia said.