España is Metro Manila’s most flood-prone road — MMDA

España Boulevard in Manila City is the most easily flooded road in the metro, data from the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Flood Control Center show.

According to a Thursday report on 24 Oras by Saleema Refran, 20 millimeters of downpour in one hour will already cause 30 centimeters or nearly one foot of flooding that will take 45 minutes to subside.

If rainfall worsens to 80 millimeters per hour, flooding will reach up to three feet and render streets impassable.

However, Manila City officials said they are addressing the issue.

“‘Yung clearing operations po namin sinasabayan po namin ng declogging ng mga drainage. So ang declogging po namin, ‘yung mga city streets. Nakikipag-coordinate kami sa DPWH para doon sa mga declogging operations ng mga national road,” Manila City Engineer Armand Andres said.

In Quezon City, the most flood-prone streets are Araneta Avenue near Talayan Village and Commonwealth Avenue near Bitoon Circle.

In these roads, 20 millimeters of flood will lead to nearly one foot of flood.

Other flood-prone roads in Metro Manila include R. Papa, Quirino Avenue, Rizal Avenue, and Taft Avenue in Manila, EDSA-Quezon Avenue and Timog Avenue in Quezon City, Macarthur Highway in Valenzuela, C3 in Caloocan, and Mayapis, Kamagong, and Buendia in Makati.

The MMDA said trash, poor drainage systems, and informal settlers residing near waterways are some of the leading causes of widespread flooding in Metro Manila.

“Kasi imbis na tubig baha ‘yung ating ipa-pump out e may kasamang basura. ‘Yun ‘yung nagka-clog sa ating mga pumps. Kung minsan nga nasisira ‘yung aming mga pumps dahil sa basura,” said MMDA Flood Control chief Baltazar Melgar.

The MMDA said they are installing additional pumping stations under the Metro Manila Flood Management Plan with aid from the World Bank. — Julia Mari Ornedo/BAP, GMA News