PAGASA: Dams not to blame for massive floods in Marikina, Pasig

The massive amount of water released by dams  during the onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses did not cause the widespread flooding in Metro Manila particularly Marikina and Pasig, PAGASA has said. 

According to Oscar Oida’s report on “24 Oras”, PAGASA hydrologist Richard Orendain said that aside from the heavy rain, the floodwaters in Marikina and Pasig City came from the upstream of Mount Oro in Rizal.

“Kailangan po nating buksan nang sa gayon ay hindi po masira ‘yong dam na ‘yon dahil hindi po natin hahayaan na mas lumala ‘yong sitwasyon na magkaroon tayo ng dam break,” Orendain said.

Orendain said the rainfall on Thursday reached 374 millimeters in a span of 11 hours. PAGASA said this amount of rainfall is equivalent to more than a month of rain.

“Wala pong dam dito po sa water shed ng Pasig-Marikina basin. ‘Yong mga malalakas na pag-ulan sa upstream, ‘yon po ‘yong nagpabaha dito sa Marikina,” Orendain said.

Further, to prevent future flooding in the capital region, PAGASA suggested artificial embankment.

“Magsa-sacrifice tayo ng isang land na doon muna natin ilagay and then pagkatapos ng pag-ulan, ng pagbaha, i-release ulit natin sa ilog ‘yong inipon natin doon sa embankment para in the future ‘pag may pag-ulan na naman, mayroon na naman tayong pag-iimbakan,” Orendain said.

Ulysses, the eighth to hit the country in the past two months, struck areas still reeling from Super Typhoon Rolly (international name: Goni), the most powerful typhoon in the world this year, which killed 25 people and destroyed thousands of homes earlier this month. -NB, GMA News