Commuters, motorists in NCR stranded as monsoon rains bring floods

Several commuters and motorists with small vehicles were stranded in Metro Manila areas due to continuous monsoon rains dumped by Typhoon Fabian.

Based on Saleema Refran's "24 Oras" report, the southwest monsoon continued to bring rains and cause floods in Manila from early morning until the afternoon.

Floodwaters reached knee-deep along Roxas Boulevard, which made it difficult for motorcycles and tricycles to traverse the area. With this, motorcycle and tricycle drivers temporarily stopped looking for passengers.

Traffic was also slow-moving because of the nonstop rainfall.

Meanwhile, commuters also had difficulty crossing the stretch T.M. Kalaw in Manila as road almost looked like a lake because of the flood.

At the Light Rail Transit in Vito Cruz, several commuters were also stranded due to endless rains.

Quezon City commuters also could not find public utility vehicles to go to their respective destinations amid the downpour.

Some residents in Parañaque had to walk at the center island to avoid the flood waters.

Pumping station

Despite the strong rainfall, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority went ahead with the launching of the new pumping station in Barangay Poblacion, Mandaluyong.

The new pumping station will benefit Boni Avenue and Ortigas. Water that will be pumped from the area will go to the San Juan River. 

MMDA chairman Benhur Abalos Jr., who led the unveiling, said they will install nets in drainage canals to ensure that trash will not contaminate the pumps.

To date, there are 67 pumping stations all over the metropolis, The MMDA is also planning to add more to prevent flooding.

Latest weather update from state meteorologists showed that southwest monsoon enhanced by Fabian and Tropical Depression Cempaka will bring monsoon rains in the next 24 hours over Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Zambales, Bataan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Cavite, Batangas, Occidental Mindoro, and the northern portion of Palawan (including Calamian and Kalayaan Islands). 

PAGASA also said it is possible to place Batanes and Babuyan Islands  under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 due to the uncertainty in the later portion of the track forecast of Fabian.—Consuelo Marquez/LDF, GMA News