Dike damage causes flooding in Obando, Valenzuela

Damage to a dike caused flooding in parts of Obando, Bulacan and Valenzuela City, according to Cedric Castillo’s “24 Oras” report on Friday.

Distressed residents of Obando found it hard to pass through roads due to the flooding.

“Siguro more than 30 minutes nadadagdag [sa biyahe] kasi syempre ang layo, hirap pa siya magpadyak dahil malaki ang tubig,” resident Cecilia Saldito said.

(More than 30 minutes was added to the travel time because it is far and difficult to pass through roads due to the floods.)

“Pagmainit naman po kahit mayroon pa rin po siya dati mga isang dangkal ngayon medyo mataas po talaga,” a resident said.

(There was always a little flooding, but now it is really quite high.)

“Sanay na lang, araw araw na ganito eh (We are used to it. This happens everyday),” another resident said.

Meanwhile, streets were also flooded in Valenzuela City the past few days.

“Matagal po, sampung taon pong hindi bumaha dito, masaya ang mga bata bumaha eh,” a resident said as the children were swimming in the floods.

(It's been a long time. There have been no floods here for almost 10 years. The kids are happy about it, though. They can swim.)

Authorities said the flooding was due to a damaged dike and high tide in an area of Obando.

The slight damage to the dike grew to three meters in three weeks.

“Yung pressure na exerted by the high tide bumigay yung ilalim talaga. Nabitin yung travel concrete revetment. Then ultimately, dahil sa weight din ng damage ng structure, bumagsak na rin yung super structure,” said Obando municipal engineer Elpidio Jesus Avena.

(The pressure exerted by the high tide damaged the bottom part of the dike, then, due to the damage, the super structure also collapsed.)

While waiting for funding from the national government, the local governments of Obando and Valenzuela City worked together to fix the collapsed part of a bridge.

They have almost completed a steel barrier that will block the water from Manila Bay.

“Matibay yun at saka malalim yung pagkabaon kaya maiiwasan natin yung seepage yung pagbuka sa ilalim. Nakikipagugnayan na rin sa DPWH, by next year pa yung pondo para gawin yung pinakapermanent structure,” Avena said.

(It is sturdy and driven deep into the ground so we can avoid seepage from the bottom. We are also coordinating with the DPWH. Funding for a permanent structure might be released next year.)

The flood gate at a nearby barangay was also damaged due to the rising waters from Manila Bay.

“Beyond repair na yun eh, parang nalukot na papel yung flood gate magte-temporary closure muna kami sana sa gate pero mahirap din eh after so many hours na ano nandyan na naman yung high tide,” Arena said.

(It is beyond repair, the flood gate looks like crumpled paper. We would like to close the gate temporarily. But it will be difficult because after so many hours, it will be high tide again.)

The local government of Valenzuela said it would donate a flood gate that could be built in a day. However, the city council still needed to craft a resolution before the flood gate could be given to Obando. — DVM, GMA News