There is an urgent need for a long-term drainage master plan to upgrade Metro Manila’s aging flood control system, some of which is over 50 years old.Â
This is according to Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Atty. Romando ‘Don’ Artes, who took note of last week’s devastation left by Severe Tropical Storm Crising (international name Wipha) and the enhanced southwest monsoon or ‘habagat’.Â
Based on initial reports, 12 individuals were killed, ten by drowning and the other two were pinned down by a huge tree trunk that fell on their house, while ₱4-billion worth of infrastructure and ₱217 million in agriculture were damaged.
Aside from the human fatalities and destruction, twenty-six trucks were needed to haul more than 600 tons of garbage collected from the streets and canals in Metro Manila alone.
In a post-assessment report, the MMDA disclosed that 526.8 tons of waste were removed from 71 pumping stations, while another 76.9 tons, approximately equivalent to about 26 truckloads, came from nearby neighborhoods close to creeks and other water sources that overflowed due to the heavy rains.
Cleared debris included broken appliances, furniture, tree trunks and plastic waste—items found clogging drainage systems and damaging pumping equipment.
Artes explained that plastics and large objects can wrap around pump motors, stalling their normal run and leading to overheating and costly repairs. He added that while all of the pumping stations remain operational, they need to be upgraded as Metro Manila’s flood control system is already over 50 years old.
The MMDA chair likewise reminded the public, particularly residents living near the rivers and creeks, to practice proper waste disposal, especially during the rainy season when trash can block drainage and increase the risk of flooding.