MMDA chief: Metro Manila can never be flood-resistant 

The chairman of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Thursday said that Metro Manila can never be resistant to flooding.

 

"Ang sinasabi ko, Metro Manila can never be flood-resistant but it can be flood resilient," MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino said during the day's Senate climate change committee hearing on the state of disaster and climate risks in the country.

 

Tolentino explained that one of the reasons Metro Manila can never be flood-resistant is because areas like CAMANAVA (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, and Valenzuela) are naturally below sea level.

 

"In terms of putting the necessary infrastructure, hindi po natin magagawa na i-angat yung CAMANAVA dahil below sea level," he said.

 

He also said that there is nothing to be done for areas which are natural catch basins.

 

"Wala po tayong magagawa...for example Roces, pababa po yun talaga, catch basin po yun.  You'll [also] have Maysilo pababa po yun," he said.

 

Aside from the landscape of Metro Manila, he said the squatting of informal settlers is preventing some of the 51 pumping stations in Metro Manila from functioning.

 

"The NHA [National Housing Authority] can attest to this, ang nangyayari po ngayon masikip na po yung estero natin because of the informal settlers.. may basura pa po tayo dun...pagod na rin po yung pump natin. Ang nahihigop po natin ngayon basura," he said.

 

Tolentino said that excluding CAMANAVA and Marikina, the most flood-prone areas in Metro Manila are España in Manila, Maysilo Circle in Mandaluyong, R. Papa along Rizal Ave., Araneta Avenue, Boni-Kalentong, Buendia South Superhighway, Brgys. Salapan and Balong Bato in San Juan City, Brgys. Doña Imelda, and Tatalon in Quezon City, and Sampaloc.

 

Senate climate change committee chair Senator Loren Legarda, however, said that even if Metro Manila cannot be flood-resistant, it can still be adaptive to the situation.

 

"Hindi ibig sabihin tatanggapin na lang natin. Pwedeng mabawasan yung bahang yan at limitado ang baha pag gagawin natin yung mga sinasabi ng mga eksperto," Legarda said in an interview with reporters after the hearing. 

 

"There's a solution to alleviate the condition, to help us be more resilient. Hindi ibig sabihin na ganyan na lang tayo, we must adapt but we must also limit the negative impact on our daily life," she added.

 

Tolentino, on his part, said that they have asked the Department of Public Works and Highways to install new pumping stations to lessen the flooding in some parts of Metro Manila.

 

He also said that the Department of Interior and Local Government will issue a memorandum circular directing all Metro Manila mayors to start identifying the areas which need to be cleared out for the eventual relocation of the informal settlers.

 

"Agree po lahat ng mga mayors, I hope it can be realized," he said.

 

He likewise said that eight of the 17 Metro Manila mayors are now pursuing a plastic ban advocacy.

 

"Kapag naging 17 mayors [yan], drastically we reduce trash. I dont know the exact percentage but mawawala na po yung nagkakoclog sa ating [mga estero]," he said. — RSJ, GMA News