MMDA starts preparation vs flooding ahead of wet season

The Metro Manila Development Authority has started declogging waterways, desilting rivers, and inspecting pumping stations amid concerns over flooding ahead of the wet season.

At the Kapihan sa Manila Hotel forum, MMDA General Manager Nicolas Torre III said the agency started its preparations months ago but admitted that recent rains showed more work still needs to be done.

“Yung paghahanda natin sa rainy season na ito, nagsimula, months back pa. Pero based on the first rains ay talagang marami pa kami gagawin pa na mga adjustments kasi based on the first rains may mga binaha uli na mga lugar,” Torre said.

(Our preparations for this rainy season started months ago. But based on the first rains, we still have a lot of adjustments to make because based on the first rains, there are areas that have been flooded again.)

According to Torre, garbage remains one of the major causes of flooding in Metro Manila.

He said MMDA removes around 7,000 tons of garbage annually from waterways and another 5,000 tons from pumping stations.

Torre said the agency has intensified declogging operations and installed garbage traps in waterways and pumping stations to prevent debris from damaging equipment.

Water lilies from Laguna de Bay continue to clog waterways, especially along the Pasig River. To address the issue, Torre said MMDA plans to convert collected water lilies into charcoal briquettes.

Torre said some private concessionaires and infrastructure operators were allegedly discharging wastewater directly onto roads instead of connecting their drainage systems to proper waterways.

“May mga major infrastructure na gawa ng mga concessionaires, medyo substandard ang pagtapon nila ng tubig. Ang downspout ay wala sa waterways…diretso lang sa kalsada,” Torre said.

(There are major infrastructures built by concessionaires, their water disposal is quite substandard. The downspout is not on the waterways...it's directly on the road.)

He said this contributes to flooding along roads during heavy rains.

Torre did not identify the companies involved but warned that the MMDA may publicly call them out if they fail to comply with rectification measures.

The MMDA said it is also strengthening monitoring efforts through CCTV cameras and the No Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP) to catch illegal dumping violators.

Under existing ordinances, violators may face fines ranging from P500 to P5,000 depending on the offense and frequency of violations. — RSJ, GMA News