MMDA: ‘Antiquated’ drainage systems major cause of massive floods in NCR during typhoons

The outdated drainage systems can be blamed for the massive floodings experienced in the National Capital Region especially when Typhoon Carina hit the country in July, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said on Tuesday.

“I think it’s pretty much accurate that the flooding was caused by an unprecedented amount of rain, garbage, and maybe I can add, the third one, which is our antiquated drainage system, which were mostly constructed during the 1970s or 50 years ago,” said MMDA chairperson Romando Artes Jr. during the Road to Zero Waste Summit in Pasig City.

Metro Manila was placed under a state of calamity due to the massive flooding in several cities caused by southwest monsoon enhanced by Carina last July.

There were 15 deaths reported in the metropolis following the onslaught of Carina and the southwest monsoon.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said climate change and the trash in the National Capital Region (NCR) as the primary causes of the massive flooding brought by the heavy rains at that time. 

Further, the MMDA said waste collection in the aftermath of the floods was challenging for them at that time.

“We in the agency had difficulty catching up and cleaning up all the garbage left by Typhoon Carina, which of course was generated by communities. The local government units were not able to collect it, maybe because it's thrown somewhere else,” said Artes.

MMDA data showed that at least 12 to 17 truck loads of waste debris were collected after Carina.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) earlier said it plans to replicate the Bonifacio Global City underground water impounding structure in Taguig City for other areas in the NCR.

Among the areas that were considered for the underground infrastructure were beneath the flood-prone University of Santo Tomas in España Boulevard in Manila. But the school’s administration did not agree with the plan, the DPWH said.

Another proposal being mulled is the revival of the 1975 flood control master plan that would add another water exit to complement the Pasig River. However, the Muntinlupa City government said the proposed Parañaque Spillway would demolish a portion of the city’s Barangay Bulig which has a population of 13,000. —RF, GMA Integrated News