By Politiko staff
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said the flood control interventions of the government have produced good results even if parts of Metro Manila were submerged in floods due to heavy rains from the enhanced southwest monsoon.
Marcos made the remarks during a situation briefing with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and key Cabinet officials on Wednesday afternoon.
“Nakita natin na may mga lugar na talaga namang tinamaan pa rin ng baha pero mas bawas na. Kung dati ay two storeys ang baha, eh ngayon siguro hanggang tuhod na lang. ‘Yung iba, hindi na nabaha,” the President said.
He added that floods recede faster than in previous years.
“Kung dati mag-aantay ang tao ng 2-3 araw bago mawala ang baha, ngayon wala pang isang araw eh wala na,” Marcos said.
Many roads and communities in Metro Manila were flooded in recent days due to the heavy rains dumped by the “habagat.”
Marcos assured that dredging operations are ongoing in many areas and that the government is eyeing several floodwater management measures, such as upgrading seawalls.
In addition, the government has identified 30 sites in the National Capital Region that may be tapped as cisterns to temporarily hold rainwater.
“There is still a lot of work that needs to be done. But with the effects that we have seen, because after all, if we look at the beginnings of the water management that we have done, this is the effect of the work of the last six, seven months na nakita natin, nakabawas kaagad,” he said.
Marcos added: “Kaya’t ipapagpatuloy natin ito, and to make sure that we have solutions for the very short term, we have solutions for the medium term, and eventually we will have solutions for the longer term.”—Politiko.com.ph
