Metro Manilans bemoan flooding as heavy rains hit NCR

Metro Manila roads were flooded over the weekend, due to the continuous rains brought about by tropical storm Isang and localized thunderstorms—and people who live and work in the crowded metro are frustrated and tired.

Among the flooded streets were those in Manila City, where even the City Hall was hit, and passersby had to walk on the metal railings and barriers to avoid the floodwaters.

A senior citizen who was doing so was reported to have slipped and fell, as reported on GMA’s “24 Oras Weekend” on Sunday.

In a separate report by Katrina Son, some people made their frustrations known. "Pagod na pagod na pagod na pagod," said one resident, jokingly doing a dance. "Siyempre perwisyo naman talaga ang baha, yung mga sakit na nakukuha sa baha."

(We're tired, so tired. Of course because flooding is a struggle, and the diseases you can get from the floods.)

"Nakakapagod kasi pag uuwi pag galing trabaho, lulusong sa baha, tapos pag uwi din sa bahay baha din," said another.

(It's so tiring because when you need to get home from work, you go out onto the floods, then when you get home there's flooding there too.)

Isang had affected northern Luzon since Friday, August 22, and left the Philippine area of responsibility on Saturday, August 23. Rains continued on Sunday, August 24, however, due to localized thunderstorms.

For his part, Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan said the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is working to address the floods, but he said this should be done in a holistic manner.

“I think dito sa Metro Manila, dapat mapagtulung-tulungan natin. It has to be holistic and comprehensive po ‘yung pag-attend ng flood problems dito,” he said in an interview on GMA Super Radyo DZBB.

(I think here in Metro Manila, we should work together. Addressing the flood problems here has to be holistic and comprehensive.)

“We are assisting actually Metro Manila for engineering interventions, but there are many problems dito sa [here in] Metro Manila, like we have to address ‘yung [the] waste management, basura,” he added.

Bonoan said the DPWH is also assisting in the rehabilitation of old pumping stations, which are being rehabilitated to increase state discharge capacities such as those in Pasig and Marikina.

During his State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July, Marcos warned government personnel who steal public funds—such as those for flood control projects—to have some shame.

He also earlier launched a website on flood control projects, and said 20% of the P545-billion budget for flood control projects was awarded to only 15 contractors, five of whom have contracts across the country.

For his part, Bonoan hinted at a possible “cleansing” in the DPWH to rid itself of erring officials and personnel. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/BM, GMA Integrated News