SAN PEDRO CITY –– A clogged pipe caused rainwater to accumulate on a footbridge in Calamba City, Laguna, causing inconvenience to pedestrians who had to wade through an ankle-deep flood or cling to the railings to keep their feet dry.
The culprit, according to the city Public Order and Safety Office (POSO), was a rock, the size of a human fist, and some pieces of discarded candy wrappers and plastic cups.
The POSO also found out that the floor drains on the footbridge were missing.
Immediately after the rock was removed, the flood was flushed out in less than an hour, said POSO chief Jeffrey Rodriguez.
The Inquirer talked to Rodriguez on the phone Friday evening to clarify the incident, which happened during a heavy downpour on Thursday afternoon.
READ: Netizen asks Isko Moreno’s help over flooded footbridge in Calamba City
The scene was captured by netizen Shin Yna Mische, whose photo of people trying to cross the flooded footbridge went viral.
Road safety advocate James Deakin even shared the photo and wrote a sarcastic caption that described it as “our own Marina Bay Sands infinity pool,” referring to Singapore’s popular destination.
Rodriguez found the negative comments online “unfair” saying such incidents do not normally happen on the footbridge, located at the center of Calamba City’s major road crossing.
He added that what the viral photo did not show was their quick response to put plastic crates to help pedestrians cross the overpass.
City Mayor Justin Marc Chipeco, in a text message, clarified that the infrastructure was built and maintained by a private business in the city and that “no public funds (were) used” for its construction.
Still, Rodriguez said the POSO helps private guards in patrolling the overpass for pedestrians’ safety. /lb