As monsoon rains continue to drench the capital, parts of Manila once again find themselves submerged, and Mayor Isko Moreno is calling out what he sees as the root of the problem: newly built but non-functioning pumping stations.
In areas like Taft Avenue and United Nations Avenue, floodwaters rise rapidly with every downpour, forcing residents to navigate waist-deep waters. Flooding in Manila is nothing new, but Moreno says this time the issue is no longer just aging infrastructure—it’s brand-new facilities that are already broken.
In a Facebook Live meeting streamed from Manila City Hall, Moreno expressed his frustration over multiple pumping stations that were recently constructed, yet failed to operate during critical times.
“Ask MMDA and DPWH to explain why these pumping stations built through congressional funds are not working,” Moreno said. “They’re brand new, but already defective. One has the wrong parts. Another used the wrong kind of cement.”
The mayor warned that unless these issues are fixed immediately, flooding in Manila will remain a never-ending problem. He also said he plans to submit a detailed report on the defective stations directly to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
According to the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), the malfunctioning stations are a major reason why floodwaters rise quickly and take longer to recede.
“Defective pumping stations cause floodwaters to rise fast and drain slowly,” explained Emerson Gilmore Austria, the city’s resident meteorologist. “They’re supposed to help clear water, but when they’re not working, everything backs up.”
Austria added that garbage and improper waste disposal are making the problem worse. Plastics, especially bottles, often clog the pumps and either slow them down or break them entirely.
So what exactly do pumping stations do?
Pumping stations are facilities designed to move excess rainwater from low-lying areas into larger bodies of water like rivers and bays. They are especially critical during high tide and the rainy season, when the natural flow of drainage is blocked.
“The purpose of a pumping station is to pump floodwater from the drainage system into Manila Bay or the Pasig River,” said engineer Michael Doce, chief of the MMDA’s Pumping Station Division. “Most of them were built as early as 1975.”
Doce confirmed that the MMDA operates 24 stations in Manila and said all are currently functional. However, he acknowledged that there are stations built by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) that have not yet been turned over—or worse, are already non-operational.
Among them are the Sunog Apog station, and three others along Roxas Boulevard: Faura, Remedios, and Abad.
As a temporary measure, Moreno has ordered city teams to deploy vacuum trucks and issue flood advisories in vulnerable areas. The city is also prioritizing rapid water removal along major roads while waiting for more permanent solutions.
“This isn’t about politics,” Moreno said. “It’s about accountability. We cannot allow flood control systems to be brand new yet already useless. People deserve better.”
The incident sheds light on the bigger issue of government accountability in public infrastructure. In a city constantly battling rising waters, working pumping stations are not optional—they are critical. And if new ones are already failing, the question remains: who is responsible?