Damaged tide control gate worsens flooding in Malabon, forces class suspensions

Due to the damaged Dampalit Tide Control Gate, residents of Barangay Dampalit and nearby barangays in Malabon City experienced thigh-deep floods on Monday despite only having relatively little rainfall.

In Darlene Cay’s report in 24 Oras on Tuesday, local officials were surprised about the flood even though the rains were not continuous.

But the officials also acknowledged that the control gate is already old and could no longer sustain the high tide alongside the strong current of the water coming from a creek.

“Yung pagkasira ng Navotas Navigational Gate, isa po ‘yun sa dahilan kung bakit lahat ng pressure ng high tide, sa amin napunta kaya po sumabog ang [tide control gate] natin,” said Barangay Dampalit Kagawad Ipe Cruz.

(When the Navotas Navigational Gate was damaged, the pressure from the high tide transferred to our side and that caused the [tide control gate] to burst.) 

The thigh-deep floods also led Malabon to suspend classes in all levels since Monday.

The office of Barangay Dampalit immediately placed sheet piles as a temporary solution to block rising water from a creek.

Further, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority also extended assistance to the barangay.

According to the Malabon City government, the repair on the damaged tide control gate might last until next week.

”Ang gagawin po nila, nagfa-fabricate na sila ng materials para sa na-damage na floodgate. Kapag natapos nila yan, hindi naman magtatagal, pu-pullout nila ang na-damage na part, ipapalit yung bago,” said Mayor Jeannie Sandoval.

(They will fabricate materials for the damaged floodgate. Once they are done with that, they will pull out the damaged part and will replace it with the new one.)

The city government said it might resume classes on Thursday as the flood had already subsided by then. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News