Noting several areas that previously experienced severe flooding were now seeing lower water levels and faster subsiding of floodwater.
After a situation briefing in Pasig City on Wednesday, August 19, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday highlighted the flood-mitigation measures being implemented by his administration.
According to him, improvements in drainage, pumping stations, and dredging have helped reduce flooding in parts of Metro Manila despite the heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon.
According to Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), with around 201 millimeters of rain having been recorded within five hours on August 18—equivalent to about 44 percent of the rainfall recorded during Tropical Storm Ondoy over a 24-hour period.
“Kung dati mag-aantay ang tao ng 2-3 araw bago mawala yung baha, ngayon wala pang isang araw, wala na,” President Marcos said, with somenareas that used to be submerged up to their second storey experienced much shallower flooding or no flooding at all.
The President said the improvements were particularly significant given the volume of rainfall recorded during the recent monsoon rains.
He also said these results of the government’s flood-mitigation efforts over the past six to seven months demonstrate the need to sustain and expand the programs in the short-, medium-, and long-term.
FLOOD MITIGATING INFRASTRUCTURE
Marcos cited part of the improvement to the continuing government efforts to clear waterways, expand drainage capacity and upgrade pumping facilities.
Infrastructure being changed start with smaller, older drainage pipes—such as some systems installed shortly after World War II—with larger pipes designed to allow water to drain more rapidly.
The President also said all 73 pumping stations under monitoring functioned at the height of the heavy rainfall, with 11 mobile pumping units also deployed in areas that required additional capacity.
The President also said that dredging operations and pumping activities will continue, with some pumping stations that temporarily stopped because there is no longer sufficient floodwater to pump out.
Meanwhile, the government is also pursuing longer-term measures to increase the country’s capacity to store excess rainwater instead of allowing it to immediately flow into the sea.
In addition, 30 potential sites have already been identified for the construction of underground water storage facilities or cisterns around the region—which involve excavating beneath existing open spaces and facilities such as football fields and other campuses, and restoring the surface after construction.
Marcos also said the government is currently coordinating with the institutions and authorities managing the identified areas, while detailed engineering studies are expected to be completed within the month—with the government expected prioritize the sites and begin excavation once the studies are completed.
The President said the proposed underground storage facilities could provide a way to temporarily hold large volumes of rainwater during intense downpours and reduce pressure on the city’s drainage and flood-control systems.
The President also directed officials to study ways of putting the collected water to better use such as for household, industrial, or irrigation purposes, depending on the quality and treatment requirements.
Meanwhile, the government is also continuing to upgrade seawalls and implement other measures for the management of floodwaters.
The recent flooding affected around 4,700 barangays and 1.7 million families, with 27 reported deaths and 17 injuries, according to the situation briefing.
For his part, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon cited interventions in Navotas and the broader CAMANAVA (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela) area as a model for other flood-prone communities.
According to the official, the government has restored six previously non-operational pumping stations in Navotas, as well as closed gaps in existing dikes and repaired the area’s navigational gate.
“Yung naging baha ngayon, proof na epektibo yung naging resulta nung pag-ayos ng mga pumping station, nung pagsara dun ng mga gaps, at pagkapaluwag ng navigational gate,” Dizon said, who emphasized that the measures worked.
HOLISTIC APPROACH TO ADDRESS FLOODING
Meanwhile, President Marcos has directed the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and other concerned agencies to conduct a “holistic approach” and coordinate with local government units (LGUs) to address the flood problems in the country.
“Sisigundahan ko lang ulit, pagpasok ko sa DPWH, ang sabi ng Pangulo, kailangan coordinated tayo nang tama sa mga LGU natin. Kasi alam ninyo naman iyong isa sa mga paulit-ulit na reklamo ng mga LGUs natin itong mga nakaraang taon lalo na sa flood mitigation projects ay hindi kinu-coordinate sa kanila in most cases, like Quezon City,” said Dizon.
“Iyong holistic solutions kasi they take time, there are no overnight solutions to this problem that we’ve been experiencing floods for decades. This is not a problem that can be fixed overnight, but ang directive ng Pangulo bilisan ang pag-aksiyon para ma-address na natin ito.”
Dizon said the DPWH is also making small improvements, but noted that this is not enough and that they have to keep working on it. “We have to keep on fast-tracking the projects,” he told.
The Public Works chief also noted that the drainage master plan and other projects proposed under the 2027 budget all require certifications from the regional and local development councils and local government units (LGUs).
“So, ngayon lahat ng flood control efforts natin is coordinated with all the LGUs. In fact, hindi kami gumagalaw diyan nang hindi alam ng mga LGU at hindi akma sa kanilang master plan,” he said. “Wala kaming ipapasok na project dito na hindi coordinated at hindi alam ng LGU at hindi kini-clear ng mga LGUs.”
DENR-NCR CLEANUP
For its part, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources–National Capital Region (DENR‑NCR) intensified its cleanup, monitoring, and environmental response operations across the region’s waterways and coastal areas following the heavy rains and flooding in Metro Manila on August 17, Monday.
During which, the accumulated solid waste and debris that obstructed water flow collected by the DENR-NCR team and its partners reached approximately 1,255 sacks of mixed solid waste from 27 cleanup sites.
The DENR‑NCR pointed to a network of trash traps installed across the metropolis that helped intercept floating debris during the heavy rains, with the largest concentration of installed sites being in the City of Manila with 55 sites. There are 196 trash‑trap sites across the region.
DENR Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna said, “Clearing these blockages helped reduce the risk of further inundation and limited downstream transport of debris during the heavy rains. Pero, ang tamang pamamahala ng basura bago pa ito makarating sa daluyan ng tubig is the long‑term solution.”
Thus, residents and establishments were urged to keep collected waste in designated areas, avoid sweeping or washing debris into drainage systems, and coordinate with local government units for proper collection and disposal of bulky and flood‑generated waste.
DENR‑NCR also reiterated the need for strict compliance with Republic Act No. 9003 to prevent future flooding impacts caused by improperly disposed waste, and said it will continue coordinating with LGUs, national agencies, and communities to monitor waterways and respond to environmental concerns after the August 17 floods.
