Floods turn Ayala flyover into 'swimming pool'

Many motorists and commuters were distressed by floods in different parts of Metro Manila following incessant rains on Wednesday night.

Knee-deep waters made the Ayala flyover look like a swimming pool, which became temporarily impassable to light vehicles.

The flooding was caused by silt and trash, according to a 24 Oras report by Mark Salazar on Thursday.

Motorists had difficulty passing through España and Ermita in Manila.

The knee-deep flood in Lagusnilad underpass was enough to cause traffic along  Padre Burgos and Taft Avenue.

The DPWH-NCR showed the mud and garbage that they collected at the catchment of the underpass.

"Every day as early as 5:30 a.m., lumalabas ang mga tao natin para gawin ang daily activity na ito kasi every day may nakukuha tayong silt, may nakukuha tayong basura sa mga catchment tulad nito," Ador Canlas, director of DPWH-NCR, said.

The Ayala flyover exiting the EDSA northbound was impassable due to knee-deep flood at 8 p.m.

"Ngayon lang kami nakakita ng flyover na parang naging swimming pool kagabi. So ang traffic nagtagal ng hanggang alas-onse ng gabi, naging moderate situation siya ala-una ng madaling araw," Assistant Secretary Celine Pialago of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said.

The DPWH-NCR however clarified the flooding at the flyover was not caused by hardened cement, as earlier reported.

"Siguro nga dahil nag-summer, maraming naghulugan na dahon at tsaka volume of silt katulad ho ng nakikita natin dito, at saka mga basura so nu'ng dine-clog na natin 'yun, tuloy-tuloy naman na ang tubig," Canlas said.

EDSA southbound suffered heavy traffic the most due to flooding in POEA in Ortigas, in White Plains and in Santolan.

Some commuters in other parts of EDSA were temporarily stranded, and others had no choice but to brave the floods.

Others also went through the traffic caused by flooding at Chino Roces Avenue in Makati City.

In nine of the most flooded areas on Wednesday night, the E. Rodriguez corner Araneta Avenue had the deepest level of water at waist-deep, caused by trash 

"Sa mga ordinaryong kababayan natin 'yung simpleng basura nila itago na lang nila para hindi na sila makadagdag sa problema," said Pialago.

The DPWH, however, said that a big part of Metro Manila is 10 inches below sea level, which is a problem with no easy solution.

"Marami tayong pumping stations sa iba't ibang mga lugar, 'yun ang ginagamit natin para ma-pump out natin ang tubig. So 'pag high tide sinabayan pa ng ulan talagang expect natin na tataas ang tubig," said Canlas.

The DPWH and MMDA are already preparing for the Habagat season, which is characterized by frequent rains. —Jamil Santos/ LDF, GMA News