Dennis Gaviola

Article (news)

Francis Orcio

ABS-CBN News

SAN MATEO, Rizal — Prolonged flooding caused by heavy rains from the enhanced southwest monsoon has forced thousands of residents in San Mateo, Rizal to evacuate, with some forced to use boats to move through flooded streets.In Barangay Maly, residents said they have grown accustomed to flooding, but the situation this year has been particularly difficult because floodwaters have taken longer to subside.Aire Genda Oribiana, a resident of Barangay Maly, said authorities should address the recurring flooding instead of providing temporary relief each time their area is inundated.“Gawin talaga nila iyong dapat gawin. Pero ngayon kasi, wala e, walang nangyayari. Paulit-ulit lang. Kahit mag-record tayo ngayon, gano&#x27;n pa rin ang mangyayari -- sa sunod na taon, maraming taon, sa darating na taon, gano&#x27;n pa rin talaga,” Oribiana said while riding a boat through the flooded area.She also criticized what she described as a lack of sustained action to address the problem.“Tapos ganito, makikita mo puro basura. Tapos pupunta lang dito kapag magvi-video ng mga ganyan, tapos sasabihin, ayan, nakatulong sila. Kahit naman talaga hindi sila nakatulong,” Oribiana added.The flooding also forced Barangay Maly resident and Bayan Patroller Melchor Baldestoy to evacuate on Monday morning amid heavy rains. Video footage showed some residents swimming through floodwaters as they attempted to leave the area.A barangay official said as many as 500 families had evacuated from Barangay Maly.In nearby Barangay Malanday, 73-year-old Rizalina Ong was also forced to send her children to safety while she remained alone at their flooded home.Floodwaters rising to more than three feet damaged their belongings, while the flooding also disrupted plans for the wake of Ong&#x27;s grandchild, which was supposed to be held at their home the previous week.Ong said the flooding had made it difficult for residents to secure food and leave their homes, while prolonged exposure to contaminated floodwater also raised health concerns.“Mahirap po talaga sa pagkain. Minsan hindi kami makalabas. Tsaka natatakot ka rin baka ma-leptos (leptospirosis) ka, gano&#x27;n, lalo na may edad na rin ako,” Ong said.“Nakaparumi ng tubig. Maraming daga. Iyong kanal na &#x27;yan napakadumi ho niyan. Kaya ako nagtitiis na lang talaga ako,” Ong said.Another resident of the same compound, Monaliza Memoracion, said prolonged exposure to floodwater had already caused fungal infections on her feet. Their belongings, including clothes and bedding, were also soaked.Memoracion said residents want the ongoing road repairs to be completed and the area&#x27;s drainage system improved to prevent floodwaters from accumulating in their community.“Gusto po namin hindi na magbaha. Ayusin po iyong kalsada para &#x27;di na kami bahain. &#x27;Yong drainage. &#x27;Yong mga daluyan ng baha, kasi sa amin napupunta ang lahat ng basura, iyong ibang basura ng mamamayan,” Memoracion said.The San Mateo Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) reported that 2,865 families, or 10,456 individuals, has been evacuated from 11 barangays due to the effects of the southwest monsoon, locally known as habagat.The evacuees are temporarily housed in 28 evacuation centers.Local authorities are also closely monitoring the water level near the San Mateo-Batasan Bridge, where the Marikina River passes through the area.According to San Mateo MDRRMO head Braulio Villanueva, one of the municipality&#x27;s major flooding challenges is the volume of water flowing down from the mountainous areas of the Sierra Madre, particularly from the higher portions of Rodriguez, Rizal.“Malakas talaga ang tubig kasi unang-una nanggagaling din sa Montalban, doon sa bundok. Kahit kami rito ay hindi ulanin, kapag nag-ulan doon sa taas, bumababa sa amin dito talaga iyong tubig,” Villanueva said.He said water levels in San Mateo could rise rapidly whenever heavy rains occur in the upland areas.“Kapag umulan po na naman nang malakas, ito po ay tumataas na naman ang tubig, lalong-lalo na kapag ang ulan ay nasa Montalban o Pintong Bocawe na nanggagaling sa bundok, mataas po talaga ang dumadating dito sa San Mateo,” Villanueva added.The MDRRMO said the water level at the San Mateo-Batasan Bridge continued to rise as of Monday.At 12:30 p.m., the water level reached 19.80 meters, prompting authorities to raise the alert to the second alarm. The third alarm is set at 20 meters, at which point forced evacuation will be implemented.The MDRRMO warned that the threat of flooding would persist if heavy rains continued, particularly with additional water flowing into San Mateo from the upland areas.

Prolonged flooding caused by heavy rains from the enhanced southwest monsoon has forced thousands of residents in San Mateo, Rizal to evacuate, with some forced to use boats to move through flooded streets.

Prolonged flooding caused by heavy rains from the enhanced southwest monsoon has forced thousands of residents in San Mateo, Rizal to evacuate, with some forced to use boats to move through flooded streets.

Prolonged flooding forces thousands to evacuate in San Mateo, Rizal

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Prolonged flooding forces thousands to evacuate in San Mateo, Rizal

Francis Orcio,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 10, 2026 11:46 PM PHT

Read More:

flood

San Mateo

Rizal

habagat

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