Several days of continuous downpour has left most of Metro Manila flooded, with thousands of residents finding themselves in evacuation centers amid this pandemic. And it seems that this has become the norm every time we hit the monsoon season, especially with the recognized effects of climate change upon us, which is now more pronounced than ever. We are one of the countries that are most vulnerable to natural disasters. Preparedness, therefore, is a must, more so for us in Metro Manila.
Remember Ondoy? That one shook us all up with millions stranded for days, and lives and properties lost. Ondoy’s economic damage was estimated to equal 2.7 percent of the country’s economy. This led the government to formulate in 2012 the Metro Manila Flood Management Plan, which serves as the backbone of our defenses to such flooding disasters. Expected to be completed in 2024, the $500-million project is jointly funded by both nationally sourced funds and a loan from the World Bank. The plan includes the rehabilitation of 36 existing pumping stations, most of which were built more than 40 years ago during the time of President Marcos; and the building of 20 new pumping stations in several waterways in the National Capital Region. Designated implementors of the project are the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Metro Manila Development Authority. I was then the Officer in Charge of the MMDA when the project implementation phase began, and I can attest to the fact that we really needed to rehabilitate those stations. Most of them broke down easily, were costly to operate and difficult to maintain, with needed parts hard to find as they are already obsolete. It was a marvel and a testament to the creative resourcefulness of the MMDA flood engineers that we kept them running even beyond their intended lifetime.
But infrastructure alone will not solve the flooding problem in Metro Manila. We need to do our part as citizens in this metropolis. One reason for the recurring breakdowns of our flood control pumps is the waste materials that clog our waterways. And we are not just talking here of the waste thrown by informal settlers living along esteros. The waste materials thrown in our water systems come from irresponsible individuals, residences, private and even government establishments. Guilt and accountability in this regard cut across societal boundaries. One reason why some restaurant areas in our cities are always flooded is the presence of solidified cooking oil thrown in the sewers. Where else would that come from? There was also this one time that we found a private construction company that was doing work for the DPWH throwing their excess cement in a nearby manhole! Imagine what that would do.
According to the MMDA web site, more than 32 truckloads or more than 100 tons of garbage are collected daily from all the pumping stations in Metro Manila. If we would believe an independent study done this year by a foreign NGO, the Pasig River is one of the top 10 sources of plastic waste that find their way into our world’s oceans. Not a very good reputation, if this is true.
We need therefore to be consciously aware of proper waste management as communities and as individuals. I believe MMDA Chairman Benhur Abalos is on the right track with his intention of promoting recycling from individual residences, rather than just doing river cleanups. And we also need to shore up our anti-littering enforcement with the necessary penalties imposed on violators. On the long-term solutions, we need to turn to education and information, especially with our youth sector. Not just theory-wise, but practicing this in their schools and in their homes.
Climate change will definitely result in heavier downpours and more flooding. But at least we can have ways to prepare and mitigate its effects. Definitely, having the proper infrastructure is one solution. But more than that, our actions as individuals will greatly help. We need to be responsible for every unmindful waste that is thrown into our waterways. Fixing the floods is not just the government’s concern. It is also the responsibility of all citizens who call Metro Manila their home.
The author maybe reached through: thomas_orbos@sloan.mit.edu