Rain volume amid habagat overwhelms Metro Manila's creeks, waterways: MMDA
The rain brought by the southwest monsoon, or habagat, over the past four days has overwhelmed Metro Manila's creeks and waterways, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Atty. Don Artes said.
Over the past week, the Philippines has been drenched by tropical cylone Luis, tropical storm Maymay—both of which weakened into low pressure areas—and the habagat.
On Aug. 8, a red rainfall warning was hoisted over Metro Manila and parts of Luzon due to heavy rains that caused floods in parts of Parañaque, Las Piñas, Malabon, Quezon City, Manila, and Cavite.
The red rainfall warning continues to be in effect on Aug. 9. Meanwhile, as of 9:30 a.m., flooding has been reported in Alabang Zapote, Sucat, and M.H. Del Pilar Street in Malabon City.
In an interview with DZMM, Artes explained that the volume of the rain since Aug. 5 has caused creeks and waterways to overflow.
"Hindi malabas agad 'yung mga nasa kalsada dahil puno na rin po 'yung mga creeks natin," he said on Sunday. "Hindi mailabas sa major waterways kasi mataas din po ang tubig."
"Karamihan po ng major creeks natin ay nag-o-overflow na. Dahil po ‘yun sa volume ng ulan. Last four days po, lalo na yung Aug. 8, napakalaki ng volume ng ulan na dala ng hangin habagat."
MMDA data from the Napindan station logged 137mm of cumulative rainfall on Aug. 8. Meanwhile, the Science Garden recorded 151mm.
Artes added that rainfall averaged 302mm from downstream and 326mm from upstream since Wednesday.
"'Pag pinagsama-sama niyo 'ayan, napakarami po talagang volume ng tubig. At ang pinakamalakas po niyan ay kahapon, Aug. 8," he said.
The MMDA chairman went on to explain that the major creeks have been deepened by two to three meters under Oplan Kontra Baha, but the creeks are still overwhelmed.
"Marami po diyan (creeks) lumiit na, natayuan ng informal structures, may mga natayuan ng kalsada kaya kumipot, nahihirapan po lumabas 'yung tubig," he continued.
According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration's Sunday, 11 a.m. weather advisory, heavy rainfall (50 to 100mm) is still to be expected in Metro Manila, Cavite, Batangas, Bulacan, Pampanga, Ilocos Sur, Abra, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Oriental Mindoro, and Antique until Aug 11.
Zambales, Bataan, and Occidental Mindoro are predicted to see heavy rainfall from Tuesday noon to Wednesday noon.
