Veinte Reales: A barangay constantly struggling against flooding

Residents of Barangay Veinte Reales in Valenzuela City have long suffered from high floods even with no serious weather system affecting the country.

It has become normal for floodwaters to enter people's homes, especially when the tide comes in.

Local Cherry Sy recounted the situation which prompted her family to "elevate" their house.

"Pag high tide ngayon, pag mataas, pumapasok na rin sa loob ng bahay. High tide pa lang eh lalo na kung sinabayan pa ng ulan o ng bagyo, taas talaga... kalsada namin," Sy told GMA News TV program "Investigative Documentaries".

She noted that the flooding had added to the financial burdens of her family.

"Pag natulog kami, walang tubig. Minsan pag dilat namin, may burak na sa loob ng bahay namin dahil pinasok na pala ng high tide," she said. "Magastos talaga, lagi na lang kaming nagpapatambak. 'Yun nga labor, 'yung mga gagamitin na ano... malaki din nagagastos."

Another resident, Willy Padilla, recalled that he had decided to sell his house worth P4.5 million in 2011, even at a loss, because his family could no longer stand the situation.

One of their main concerns were the illnesses that came along with the dirty floodwaters.

"Natira po sandali pero dahil sa baha, binenta ko po kahit mura lang. Dalawang milyon. Araw-araw lagi pong high tide sa di natin malaman na dahilan. Ang napakalaking epekto para sa amin dahil kasi isipin mo naman napakarumi ng tubig, 'yung nanggagaling sa ilog... nagkakaroon ng sakit," Padilla said. 

According to the local barangay chairman, this has been the situation in Veinte Reales for almost five decades.

"Sa totoo lang catch basin 'yung barangay namin," explained Pio San Diego Jr. "Bata pa ho ako, bumabaha na ho. Talagang medyo lumalaki na ho. Ang kaibahan lang ho, noong araw ang tubig noon malinis.

"Sa ngayon ho 'yun ang nakakatakot dahil nga pagka-bumaha, tumaas ang tubig, sigurado 'yung tubig na matatapakan mo medyo marumi."

Floodwaters in Barangay Veinte Reales normally rise to about two feet, but this may reach five feet if accompanied with torrential rains.

Flood control

It was in 2014 when the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) constructed a floodway near the Lingunan and Veinte Reales creek.

Aside from this P50 million flood control project, a pumping station was also built nearby.

However, resident Carmelita Nabales claimed that just weeks after its construction, the floodway started to fall apart.

"Ano siya nung ginawa 'yan wala pa isang linggo lang me crack na," said Nabales .

Joselito Batac, a sanitary and civil engineer, confirmed that the floodway had started to let water through.

"May leakage talaga, puwedeng lagyan ng rubber 'yung edge niya siguro sa ilalim para mabawasan 'yung seepage niya."

In order to better control the flooding, the DPWH said it had repaired the damaged river-wall and built another pumping station.

However, the new pumping station was too small.

"Ginawa na namin 'yung ibang riverwall, nitong nakaraang taon gumawa na naman kami ng ibang portion ng riverwall pagkatapos meron kaming ginawang pumping station. Kaya lang maliit, insufficient," said DPWH Engineer Casiano De Guzman.

"So ngayon pag tide water nasabayan ng malakas na ulan, di sapat. Babaha at babaha dahil 'yung tubig sa loob, di makakalabas."

Urban planner Architect Felino Palafox Jr. believed that the present drainage system in Metro Manila could not address the worsening flood woes around the city, pointing out that the issue must be addressed "more comprehensively."

"Gawin nilang at least hundred year return 'yung mga drainage pipes nila, hindi lang 25 years. Lumaki 'yung run of water and development... higher ground in Metro Manila, 'yung lower ground maliliit pa rin 'yung pipes nila," Palafox warned.

"Double whammy because we are re-pumping also water from the underground so bumababa 'yung lupa. Tapos with the climate change, tumataas 'yung tubig sa Manila Bay."

Health Risk

Aside from the effects the floods had on homes, property values, and livelihoods, another worry was the health risk to children.

Jennifer Sales blamed the flooding her 11-year-old son, Prixian, acquiring dengue.

"One hundred percent po nakagat daw po 'yung anak ko ng lamok, na sa baha daw po. Hindi lang naman po 'yung araw na 'yun may baha eh, matagal na po may baha nun eh. Alaga ko naman 'yung mga anak ko, hindi ko rin po ineexpect na mabibiktima 'yung anak ko ng dengue dahil pag pumasok, pinapalagyan ko talaga ng off lotion, mga ganon," Sales said.

Doctor Ferdinand De Guzman of the San Lazaro Hospital explained that mosquitoes may breed in stored, clean water which can later increase dengue cases in the area.

"Yung mga lalagyan po ng tubig, flower vases, like 'yung gutter galing sa ulan o 'yung mga gulong po within the vicinity na pwedeng medyo malinis ang tubig, pwede po doon ang lamok which give rise to dengue," De Guzman said, adding that aside from dengue, flood may also cause respiratory diseases and stomach aches.

To avoid this, the local government, with the help of residents, has been regularly cleaning-up the barangay.

"Sa tulong po ng barangay council, ng mga barangay personnel at residente po ng aming lugar ay pangkaraniwan po namin ginagawa to lalo na pag dumadating po 'yung kalamidad o 'yung baha. Hindi lang naman po dito, malaki po 'yung lugar namin, isa lang po 'to sa nagiging prayoridad namin para maiwasan 'yung karamdaman. Ganon na rin po 'yung kalinisan na rin," San Diego said.

Also, particularly during the rainy season, local officials were alert and closely monitoring the situation to ensure that residents could be safely brought evacuation centers, if needed.

"Pag bumabagyo, talagang doon ho kami nagagahol. Ang inuuna ho namin asikasuhin ay 'yung mga residente na naapektuhan ng baha dahil ito po 'yung unang-una naming nililikas at dinadala namin sa evacuation center," San Diego said.

"Nakaready naman ho kami, may mga rescue team tayo, from time to time, umiikot ho sila at kami naman ho ay nakamonitor din. Marami ho nasa barangay," he added. — Anna Felicia Bajo/DVM, GMA News