QC drainage master plan seen to solve flood woes

The Quezon City local government’s drainage master plan is seen to help ease the flood problems in the city and nearby areas during heavy rains.  But completion is still in 2023, according to a report on "24 Oras" by Dano Tingcungco.

Several residents, including the family of Nelson Lozada, experienced high flooding over the weekend as their houses are near waterways.

“Mabilis umangat ang tubig 30 minutes pa lang tapos ayun na hanggang gabi na yun. Nilabas namin yung bangka namin dito, sanayan lang talaga, walang iba ano eh kaya pag dito ka nakatira dapat marunong ka rin lumangoy,” Lozada said.

(The water rose quickly in just 30 minutes and then until midnight. We readied our boat, if you live here you should also know how to swim.)

Areas in Quezon City including Roxas District, West Riverside, San Antonio, Tatalon, Apolonio Samson and Bahay Toro were submerged in deep waters over the weekend following a downpour.

The Quezon City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (QCDRRMO) said clearing and dredging operations in waterways are underway as well as improving the waste management in the city.

According to the agency, the problem of flooding in the city is complicated as each area has different causes of flooding.

Since 2021, the local government has partnered with the University of the Philippines (UP) in developing a drainage master plan for the entire city.

"Tinitingnan yung behavior po ng flood waters tapos kung yung mga dinadaan ba nila obstructed ba,” QCDRRMO Research and Planning Section chief Bianca Perez said.

(We look at the behavior of the flood waters and see if the areas where water passes are obstructed.)

The master plan is expected to be completed in 2023. The city government has also laid out initial findings to provide solutions.

Meanwhile, the local government is also coordinating with the National Housing Authority on the relocation of affected families to Bulacan and Rizal.

Lozada said they are amenable at relocating to a safer place, but are worried if they will have jobs or sources of livelihood in the new area.

“Yung pupuntahan naming lugar kumbaga malayo sa bayan eh ang trabaho ko minsan nandito sa Quezon City. Sana yung pagdadalhan sa amin maayos na, hindi katulad ng iba na pinagbabagsakan wala pang tubig at kuryente,” he added.

(The relocation area is far from the town center.  My job is here in Quezon City.  We hope the new place is livable, with water and electricity.)—Richa Noriega/LDF, GMA News