Floods trouble Malabon, Navotas as damaged floodgate yet to be repaired 

Gutter-deep floods continue to bother residents of Malabon City and Navotas City since the North Navotas Navigational Floodgate was damaged last week, which also affected some small businesses. 

In Dano Tingtungco’s report in “24 Oras,” the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said that the floodgate has yet to be repaired after a barge slammed into the floodgate last June 7. 

“Kung bumara na po bakit po kailangan pilitin? Kumaladkad 'yan sa flood gate na dahilan po ng pagkasira, kasi nga po before naman that naitataas at naibaba po siya,” said MMDA acting chairperson Romando Artes. 

(If it’s blocked, why do you have to force it? It bumped into the floodgate which caused the damage. Because you can raise it up or pull it down before.) 

The North Navotas Navigational Floodgate is supposed to rise up during high tide to prevent the entry of water from Manila Bay to the cities of Malabon and Navotas. 

But after the incident, a crane was even used to raise the gate. 

GMA Integrated News has reached out to the barge’s owner for comment. 

With the flooding, some small business owners in Navotas City expressed dismay over their situation. 

“Mag one-week na pero ngayon lang ako nakapagtinda. Nung nakaraang araw di ako nakapagtinda kasi malaki yung tubig,” said Agnes Maristela. 

(It’s my first time to sell again since the incident happened. I wasn’t able to sell anything in the past few days because of the high level of water.) 

“Minsan kasi yung customer po di lumalabas kasi baha…Minsan matumal kasi yung mga tao ayaw magsilabas,” said Marisol Tonga. 

(You cannot find the customers on the street because of the flood…The sales are very sluggish because people are inside their homes.) 

To prevent flooding, the city government of Navotas has to rely on sandbags for now especially in areas where water can penetrate.—Vince Ferreras/LDF, GMA Integrated News