About 60 families in evacuation centers after river wall collapses in Navotas

Between 40 to 60 families moved to evacuation centers on Monday after the river wall in Barangay San Jose, Navotas collapsed due to the water pressure brought about by the high tide.

According to Joseph Morong’s “24 Oras” report, due to the pressure of the water, some houses, belongings, and even residents were swept away.

Maria Teresa and her son were only saved after she held onto a rock.

As of today, sandbags have been placed to control the current and prevent the water from entering the houses.

As of 2 p.m., the water level reached 1.7 meters.

The Navotas City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO) explained that the river wall is owned by private company.

The company has said it is directly coordinating with the Navotas local government unit to repair the collapsed river wall this week.

“Kausap na po natin yung may-ari ng kumpanya at papalitan nila ang pader po na yan. Kaya lang ngayon po kasi hindi matatapos na isang araw po yan. So magtataas na naman yung high tide so kailangan may gawin tayong temporary na paraan,” Navotas Mayor John Rey Tiangco said.

(We’re talking with the company owner, and he said they will replace the river wall. However, it cannot be completed in one day, so we need to work on temporary solutions since the high tide will occur again.)

“Ang gagawin lang naman dyan ay bubuhusan lang po nila ng semento. Pe-permanente na po nila yung back out para po dito,” CDDRMO chief Vonne Villanueva said, adding that the river wall should have been repaired a long time ago.

(What will be done there is to pour cement and make the back out permanent.)

“Unfortunately, kung titingnan niyo po yung mga bahayan, parte na po ng dingding nila yung wall. Parang nakiusap na huwag munang gibain kasi maapektuhan yung mga nakatira dito,” he added.

(Unfortunately, the wall is part of the residents’ houses. They had asked not to tear it down, for now, since their houses would be affected.)

Meanwhile, the water can’t flow to the river easily since the Navotas floodgate was damaged last May.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said it will start repair work on Tuesday, July 1.

“Kung naisasara po natin yun, yung tubig dagat po during high tide hindi makakapasok,” Villanueva said.

(If we’re able to close it, the water from the sea cannot enter during high tide.)

Meanwhile, the Navotas City Health Office had given the residents medicine against leptospirosis. — Mariel Celine Serquiña/BAP, GMA Integrated News