President Marcos on Thursday said irresponsible garbage disposal and climate change were factors in the massive floods in Metro Manila and other regions during the onslaught of Super Typhoon “Carina” and the enhanced southwest monsoon or “habagat.”
He said flood control infrastructures, like the pumping stations in Valenzuela and Navotas, did not work properly as they were clogged with garbage.
“We have a lot of pumping stations but we just encountered a problem. I hope the people will learn. Let’s not throw away our trash carelessly because they are blocking our pumps that’s why they weren’t effective,” Mr. Marcos said.
The President noted that Navotas City has 81 pumping stations while Valenzuela has 32.
Metro Manila and five nearby areas have declared a state of calamity in the wake of the torrential rains.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority also called on the public anew to stop dumping their rubbish in rivers, creeks and open sewers, especially during the rainy season, to prevent significant flooding in the metropolis.
While stopping short of blaming the public for the floods, the agency said it is “lack of discipline in garbage disposal” that prevented the rainwaters from washing out to Manila Bay.
MMDA chairman Romando Artes lamented that irresponsible garbage disposal clogs canals, drainage systems, and waterways, which, in turn, causes floods.
The MMDA chief urged the public to exercise discipline in managing their trash properly to prevent “a never-ending cycle.”
The President also underscored the need to “relook” and “reexamine” the designs of flood control infrastructures.
“The amount of water was not as bad as Ondoy, but the effect was greater than Ondoy. The flood is worse. More areas are submerged with floodwaters compared to the time of Ondoy. But we have more flood control projects now than before,” he said.
At the Upper Chamber, Senate President Francis Escudero expressed disappointment over the Department of Public Works and Highways’ failure to stop waters from rising in Metro Manila despite having a P255 billion budget for flood control projects.
Earlier, the lawmaker criticized the flood control budget as disproportionately large compared to other critical sectors.
“What happened to the hundreds of billions spent on flood control projects by the DPWH, MMDA, and local government units?” Escudero asked.
He said the Senate Committee on Public Works, chaired by Senator Ramon Revilla Jr., is poised to conduct an inquiry to uncover the reasons behind the inefficacy of the flood control projects despite substantial funding.
“We cannot control the severity and frequency of typhoons and heavy rains, but we must anticipate, adjust, and adapt so that extreme weather phenomena do not unnecessarily disrupt the lives of our [countrymen],” Escudero said.
For his part, Senator JV Ejercito said a comprehensive master plan for infrastructure development must be put in place to prevent massive flooding.
This plan would include high-impact flood mitigation and control projects alongside transportation modernization efforts, he noted.
In the aftermath of simultaneous weather disturbances and the accompanying floods, House Deputy Minority Leader and Bagong Henerasyon Rep. Bernadette Herrera called for immediate and comprehensive action to aid affected communities and ensure swift recovery and rebuilding efforts.
“The destruction caused by Typhoon Carina and the intensified southwest monsoon has left many of our fellow Filipinos in dire situations. Homes have been destroyed, livelihoods disrupted, and lives tragically lost. Now, more than ever, we need to come together as a nation to provide the necessary support and resources to those in need,” she told reporters.
Meanwhile, the National Electrification Administration said Thursday 22 electric cooperatives (ECs) from 15 provinces and six regions were affected by “Carina” and the enhanced “habagat.”
Based on the NEA Situational Report, 13 ECs have restored power supply to their consumers while nine are still experiencing partial power interruptions.
It placed the number of consumer connections affected at 114,565, with an initial reported damage cost of P3.142 million.
