Maria Virginia Sy

Seventy-year-old Florita Borja, a resident of Barangay 180, observes that rainfall is becoming more intense and they are often caught off guard by sudden, heavy downpours.

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Climate change and flood design

In Barangay 180, Maricaban, Pasay City, the flooding situation can be even worse. According to Barangay Captain Patrick San Miguel, over 95 percent of his constituents were affected by the massive flooding on July 23 and 24.

Flood level warnings were painted on electric posts around Barangay 180, Maricaban, Pasay City. According to Barangay Captain Patrick San Miguel, over ninety-five percent of his constituents were affected by the massive flooding on July 23 and 24.

Barangay 180 in Maricaban, Pasay City

Over ninety-five percent of residents were affected by the massive flooding in Barangay 180, Maricaban, Pasay City on July 23 and 24, 2024.

Residents noticed the narrowing of the Maricaban Creek after metal sheet piles were installed and river wall were constructed.

Seventy-year-old Florita Borja, a resident of  Barangay 180, observes that rainfall is becoming more intense and they  are often caught off guard by sudden, heavy downpours.

Two bridges connect Barangay 180 to Isla 1 and Isla II, located across Maricaban Creek and adjacent to Barangay Magallanes in Makati City.

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<div><em><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/173330279255820240823-barangay-180-florita-borja-GCS6867.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Florita Borja, a resident of Barangay 180, Pasay, stands on a bridge damaged by floodwater during the onslaught of Tropical Storm Carina on July 24, 2024. </span></span></span><strong></strong></em></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/weather-traffic/2024/12/5/part-i-communities-struggle-to-stay-afloat-as-delays-impede-flood-management-in-metro-manila-2003" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>PART I:</strong> Communities struggle to stay afloat as delays impede flood management in Metro Manila</a></div><p><br id="isPasted"/><em><strong>Outdated project design fails to address flooding given intense rainfall and extreme weather events.</strong></em><br/><em></em><br/>MANILA — Seventy-year-old Florita Borja, a resident of Barangay 180 in Maricaban, Pasay City, observes that rainfall is becoming more intense and they are often caught off guard by sudden, heavy downpours.</p><p><strong><em></em></strong><em></em><em>&quot;</em>There are moments when we don’t expect it—then the rain suddenly pours. There’s nothing else we can do but secure our belongings,&quot; she said.</p><p>Just this month, they experienced flooding they didn’t expect, and the water rose higher than anticipated, she added. They simply had no choice but to secure their belongings, particularly their  appliances, leaving the rest of their belongings floating as floodwater rose. </p><p>For a senior citizen like her, the frequent severe flooding takes a toll on her health. “The constant cleaning is just too much for me,” she added.</p><div>[[PHOTO ALBUM]]</div><div><strong><em></em></strong><em></em><em></em><em></em><em></em><strong><em></em></strong></div><p>&quot;It’s hard when you’re all alone. My child goes to work, so I’m the one left to clean up. There was a time when I thought I was going to die.  Last year, the floods kept coming one after another. As soon as the floodwaters receded, it would start raining heavily again, and the water would rise inside once more,&quot; she said.<em></em></p><div><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAEyze-tm4MR6kEa&amp;cid=ABRaYLl0ll1BcUJq&amp;activation=click&amp;vip_mode=playing&amp;vip_position=bottom-right"></script></div><p>For barangay leader Patrick San Miguel, flood management in Metro Manila seems ineffective, saying a heavy rain can easily bring widespread flooding.</p><p>“In my opinion, the reason for this, particularly in our community, is the narrowing of the river. Metal sheet piles were installed by the [Department of Public Works and Highways], but instead of widening the river, it became constricted after they added a pedestrian pathway and pocket gardens on the side,” he said.</p><p>While plans have been presented by DPWH, the barangay has yet to agree to the project.</p><p>Although it is essentially approved on paper, he believes the plan needs to be thoroughly discussed with him and the village council.</p><p>If the project makes the situation worse for the barangay, he said he is prepared to fight for the community in the council and call for a better solution before project pushes through.</p><p>“We thought we wouldn’t get flooded anymore because they dug up the area and tore down our houses. But it only got worse. The area floods easily now,” according to Borja.</p><p>Borja believes the government needs to address the water flow along the river so the community won’t flood so easily.</p><p>“I hope they can dredge this part of the river and make it deeper to improve the situation and address the frequent flooding.” </p><p>She explained that recent flooding has been worsening. </p><p>&quot;Unlike before, even when it rained all day, we didn’t get flooded.”</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe title="Metro Manila has experienced more frequent intense rainfall over the past decade " id="datawrapper-chart-Y3nUB" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/Y3nUB/11/" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" style="width:0px;min-width:100% !important;border:medium;height:459px" height="442" data-external="1"></iframe> <script type="text/javascript">
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	</script></div><div><br/></div><p>Each of the three weather stations in Metro Manila, along with the Tanay station have recorded the highest rainfall within the past five years.</p><p>The unprecedented rainfall of 461.2 mm was recorded at the Science Garden in Quezon City on July 24, 2024, during Typhoon Carina. This surpassed the previous record of 455 mm set by Tropical Storm Ondoy (Ketsana) on September 26, 2009.</p><p>Dr. Guillermo Tabios III, a hydrology expert at the UP Institute of  Civil Engineering, pointed out that recent rainfall resulted in a higher volume of water and runoffs, which current drainage systems cannot handle.</p><p>Dr. Tabios explained that the issue arises when flood control plans rely on &quot;design level protection.&quot; This approach involves designing structures, like flood walls, based on the probability of a storm occurring.</p><p>He questioned the DPWH on their methodology, asking why they use a 1-in-100 probability instead of alternatives like 1-in-40 or 1-in-50. He noted that they assess flood levels, then add a &quot;freeboard&quot; of 1.3 meters when designing flood walls to account for additional safety.</p><p>He argued that evaluating the performance of flood or mitigation plans based solely on a two-day event, especially with a lower level of protection designed to fit budget constraints, is insufficient.      </p><h3 style="color:#891a09">Challenges with relocation</h3><p>Parts of the flood master plan include non-structural measures that classify areas based on flood severity.</p><p>According to Dr. Tabios, the masterplan mentioned that some areas in Quezon City are classified as Severity 4, where living is unsafe, and informal settlers need to be relocated to safer areas</p><p>The relocation of informal settlers originally began in 2011 when the Aquino administrations implemented “Oplan Likas”, according to DPWH.</p><p>The project aimed to relocate residents from danger zones, particularly flood-prone areas adjacent to waterways. As part of the modernization of drainage systems under the MMFMP, proponents initially targeted the relocation of around 11,000 ISFs (informal settler families), but this was later reduced to 2,500 with the exclusion of certain projects, and eventually cut to 600 families by 2024 due to the cancellation of planned pumping stations because of right-of-way issues.</p><p>To date, there are 375 households that have been relocated to Sunshine Village in Trece Martires, Cavite.  </p><p>According to Aguilar, the World Bank wants ISFs to be properly relocated and not end up in worse situations.</p><p>She added that the bank strictly monitors and adheres to safeguards to ensure that relocated residents have better access to livelihood opportunities, as outlined in the Resettlement Action Plan.</p><p>Tin Villanueva, who was once relocated under Oplan Likas, a project preceding the MMFMP, explained that the lack of income sources, limited access to health services, and high transportation costs forced her family to return to Maricaban.</p><p>&quot;We were there for less than a month because there was nothing there. We decided to come back to Pasay so at least we could earn a little for our daily needs,&quot; she said.</p><p>She said the relocation site now has a public market and a school and some residents have put up stores and shops.</p><p>She said she hopes that, in the future, the government will prioritize livelihood opportunities and accessibility to basic services before residents are relocated.</p><h3 style="color:#891a09">Waste aggravates Metro Manila’s flooding problem </h3><p>According to engineer Allan Tubao, head engineer at the Tripa de Gallina Pumping Station, solid waste has been a major contributor to Metro Manila&#x27;s problems.</p><p>Massive amounts of waste clog waterways, slowing the flow of water and impacting how quickly floodwaters recede.</p><p>Uncollected waste often ends up in the pumping stations during heavy rainfall, threatening the efficient operation of the pumps.</p><p>Among the catchment areas serviced by the five pumping stations prioritized for modernization, Tripa de Gallina records the highest annual accumulation of waste.</p><p>This highlights the importance of  initiatives in implementing proper waste management in barangays within the catchment area.<br/><br/></p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/173330452052320240823-tripa-de-gallina-pasay-GCS-6414.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">MMDA personnel carry discarded refrigerator casings collected from the pumping station on August 23, 2024.  Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News </span></span></span></div><p><br/>Engineers at Tripa de Gallina have seen the worst, as all sorts of waste end up at the station</p><p>“There are times when mattresses and discarded refrigerator casings are found in the trash racks of pumping stations. These items pose serious problems as they can damage the machines at Tripa de Gallina.</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe title="Waste accumulated in Metro Manila pumping stations decreased by at least half over the past seven years." id="datawrapper-chart-Gk9EP" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/Gk9EP/3/" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" style="width:0px;min-width:100% !important;border:medium;height:449px" height="438" data-external="1"></iframe></div><script type="text/javascript">
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</script><div><br/></div><p><br/>Residents of Tatalon in Quezon City and Barangay 180 in Pasay share the same observation.</p><p>Barangay 180 residents recall how a deluge of waste destroyed the railings of a bridge in their area during the onslaught of Typhoon Carina.</p><p>Data from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority shows that the total waste accumulated in Metro Manila pumping stations has decreased by at least half over the past seven years.</p><p>However, the status report shows, only a quarter of the 17,000 cubic meters of waste used as baseline data in 2017 was actually collected at the targeted pumping stations.</p><p>Revised targets were adjusted to focus on reducing at least half of the waste generated in Metro Manila.</p><p>Based on the restructuring report published by the World Bank, waste conversion technologies are in the early stages of piloting at rehabilitated pumping stations. At the Vitas pumping station, a solid waste granulator and brick-making facility has been operational since 2021, while pyrolysis equipment is still undergoing testing for environmental compliance, according to Dir. Gison.</p><p>In a performance audit report published in January 2023, the Commission on Audit raised concerns about the disposal of waste collected at various pumping stations. The waste is transported to sanitary landfill in Navotas, which, according to the report, may be prone to flooding and could cause marine pollution, particularly during storm surges.</p><p>According to Michael Gison, director of the MMDA Physical Planning and Spatial Development Service, waste and flooding are significantly intertwined, making it impossible to successfully manage flooding without addressing the region’s waste generation issue.</p><p>“The problem with waste is that we have limited drainage capacity... Aside from the waste issue, our drainage systems are also too small, which is another point of discussion. We need to improve the drainage system; we need to build better and more efficient ones,&quot; he said.</p><p>“If waste clogs the drains, when heavy rain comes, the streets will surely flood. That’s the problem we face. If the streets get clogged, water will overflow, and then traffic follows. Everything is interconnected. So, these issues need to be addressed together to fix the system in Metro Manila. Otherwise, if you only fix one aspect, eventually, the unresolved issue will create problems for the one you just fixed. It will aggravate the situation.”</p><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/weather-traffic/2024/12/5/part-i-communities-struggle-to-stay-afloat-as-delays-impede-flood-management-in-metro-manila-2003" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em><strong>[Part I] </strong>Communities struggle to stay afloat as delays impede flood management in Metro Manila</em></a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/weather-traffic/2024/12/8/lack-of-accountability-costly-mistakes-and-delays-keep-manila-prone-to-flooding-1026" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em><strong>[Part III] </strong>Lack of accountability, costly mistakes and delays keep Metro Manila prone to flooding</em></a></div><div><br/></div><p><strong>NOTE: </strong> This story was produced with the support of<strong> Internews’ Earth Journalism Network</strong> as part of the Media Action on Sustainable Infrastructure in the Philippines Project. </p><table style="width:100%"><tbody><tr><td style="width:100%;background-color:rgb(250, 245, 232)"><div><strong>METHODOLOGY:</strong><strong><br/></strong></div><p>The author utilized data on the Metro Manila Flood Management Project from published reports by the World Bank, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and the Commission on Audit (COA).</p><p>Information on Official Development Assistance was sourced from published reports by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).</p><p>Data on populations susceptible to flooding were gathered from PHIVOLCS GeoRisk PH, published by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).</p><p>Rainfall data were obtained from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) - Climate and Agrometeorological Data Section (CADS).</p><p>To gain a better understanding of the situation, the author conducted interviews with residents of Barangay Tatalon in Quezon City and Barangay 180, Maricaban, Pasay.</p><p>Furthermore, the author interviewed representatives from the MMDA and DPWH to gather feedback on the data findings.</p><p>Experts from Propel - Pro-People Engineers and Leaders, as well as Dr. Guillermo Q. Tabios III, Professor Emeritus at the UP Institute of Civil Engineering, were also interviewed for their feedback and recommendations.</p></td></tr></tbody></table>

<p>Outdated project design fails to address flooding given intense rainfall and extreme weather events.</p>

Outdated project design fails to address flooding given intense rainfall and extreme weather events.

[Part II] The price of underestimating climate change

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[Part II] The price of underestimating climate change

Gigie Cruz,

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Published Dec 07, 2024 09:59 AM PHT

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Updated Dec 08, 2024 03:02 PM PHT

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