EDITORIAL - A flood of problems

Tropical depression "Emong" dumped rains in Metro Manila Friday, spawning heavy floods – the first since classes started. The Department of Public Works and Highways reported that due to multimillion-peso flood control projects undertaken by the government, the floods were less severe and receded faster.

That may be true, but floods still forced the suspension of classes in several areas. Flooding was heaviest in northern Metro Manila, where a mere high tide can inundate homes. In some areas such as Valenzuela City, road diggings aggravated flooding and trapped floodwaters, bringing traffic to a standstill.

Unless the government plans to turn that part of Metro Manila into the Venice of the Philippines, the DPWH better do something about the floods. Flooding in Valenzuela, Caloocan, Malabon and Navotas worsened after a natural water catchment near Manila Bay was filled up for the construction of the Dagat-Dagatan housing area during the Marcos regime. No alternative catchment area or drain was put in place. Aggravating the problem was uncollected garbage. The result – the worst flooding in Metro Manila every year, disrupting classes, slowing down business and posing health risks.

There are similar problems in other parts of Metro Manila. The reclamation project in Manila Bay covered natural drains without providing for alternative water paths, causing floods in areas that used to be flood-free or worsening the problem in flood-prone areas. The same problem plagues roads and communities in former salt beds that have been reclaimed.

Compounding the problem are abandoned road diggings and public works projects without proper signs. The problem is not unique to Valenzuela City. In some areas, garbage has also piled up in the abandoned road excavations, aggravating the flooding. Without proper signs during floods, vehicles and pedestrians fall into these road diggings. Children have drowned in such excavations.

Putting appropriate warnings around road projects won’t require a major effort or funding. Improving drainage in reclaimed areas entails more effort and funding, but it’s not an impossible task and must be done. Parts of Metro Manila are sinking slowly, making flooding inevitable. But there are ways of minimizing flooding. And there are ways of easing the public’s misery during floods.