Strong Glenda packs little rain, causes ‘minimal’ flooding in Metro Manila

By ANDREO CALONZO, GMA News

Published July 16, 2014 5:29pm

Typhoon Glenda caused "very minimal" flooding in Metro Manila, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) reported Wednesday.

At a press briefing, DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson admitted that he was surprised to see only gutter-deep water in flood-prone areas like España Boulevard in Manila.

"It is surprising, but we are happy to see na hindi ganoon ka-extensive ang baha," Singson said on Wednesday afternoon.

"We were expecting na mas maraming segments ang baha, but we are happy na hindi ganoon kalaki ang baha sa Metro Manila," he added.

PAGASA, however, said that its Science Garden in Quezon City accumulated only 60 millimeters of rain brought by Glenda as of 2 p.m. Wednesday.

This figure is significantly lower compared to the 334-millimeter rainfall poured by Tropical Storm Ondoy over Metro Manila in September 2009, and the 323-millimeter rainfall brought by monsoon rains in August 2012.

Still, Singson credited various flood-control infrastructure projects undertaken by the government, as well as the clearing of informal settler communities near waterways, for the minimal flooding despite the onslaught of the typhoon.

"Our flood control sa may FEU [Far Eastern University] seem to be working very well... It also looks like 'yung pag-clear ng waterways helped prevent in Makati and Pasay areas," the Cabinet official said.

Singson also said that mobile drainage pumps were deployed to the flood-prone Lagusnilad underpass in Manila, but were not used because of minimal flooding.

At least 10 people have already been reported killed after Typhoon Glenda battered parts of the Bicol Region, Metro Manila, southern and central Luzon from Tuesday night to Wednesday afternoon.

Metro Manila was placed under Storm Signal No. 3 on Tuesday night due to Glenda. As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, PAGASA only raised Storm Signal No. 1 over the country's capital region.

Ninety percent of Manila Electric Co's (Meralco) franchise area in Southern Luzon, Metro Manila and nearby provinces currently do not have electricity after the typhoon toppled electric poles and brought down transmission lines of the Luzon grid. —NB, GMA News

Tags: weather, glenda, rammasun, dpwh, metromanila