Flood takes weeks to subside, residents of barangay in Laguna lament

Residents of Barangay Dela Paz in Biñan, Laguna are worried that flooding in their area may take several weeks to subside following the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Enteng. 

According to the report of Nico Waje on “Saksi” on Tuesday, the barangay has always experienced severe flooding during heavy rains as the area is connected to Laguna de Bay. 

Although it did not rain that much, residents had to wade through the knee-deep flood waters. 

“Kapag nago-overflow na o mataas na ang level ng tubig ng Laguna de Bay, talagang automatic po na pumpunta sa residential po yung tubig,” said barangay chairman Gino Guico. 

(When the water in Laguna de Bay overflows or rises, it will automatically flow to the residential areas.) 

Aside from Laguna de Bay, the barangay is also beside a river making it a catch basin during floods. 

Residents had no choice but to accept the situation in their area. 

“Sanay na po. Wala pong ibang maanuhan, nandito lang po kami,” one of the residents said. 

(We are just used to this. We cannot go anywhere else and we decided just to stay here.) 

If the flood water does not exit through Napindan Channel and Manggahan Floodway en route to Manila Bay, the flood may take weeks or a month before it fully subsides. 

“Noon pong nakaraang Carina, hindi naman siya sobrang tagal talaga. So mga two weeks po. Pero as of the moment, bago dumating yung Bagyong Enteng, actually nawala na rin talaga. Bigla ito, dumating yung Bagyong Enteng, so back to zero,” said Guico. 

(During Typhoon Carina, the flood water did not take long to subside. It just lasted for two weeks. There was no flood until Tropical Storm Enteng came. So everything went back to zero.) 

Because the barangay is a flood-prone area, residents had to build upper floors to adjust to the situation. 

“August ito nagsimula, eh ano na ngayon…Talagang mahirap po,” said stroke patient Louisa Valentino, who is grateful that the flood has not reached her bed. 

(This has been our situation since August and what date is it now? It’s really hard for us.) 

The barangay manages to deliver food to every resident door-to-door.

According to the report, the barangay’s rescue team is on standby if the flood water further rises. 

The national government said that it has P65.6 billion in standby funds that could support relief efforts. 

According to the state weather bureau PAGASA, Enteng may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Wednesday morning. —Vince Ferreras/LDF, GMA Integrated News