PH senators on Metro Manila flood: ‘Reclamation pa more!’

This bus on Araneta Avenue in Quezon City was submerged in flood waters due to heavy rains brought by Typhoon #CarinaPH and the southwest monsoon. All passengers are rescued and safe. (Courtesy of Jackielyn Garrote/ Facebook Live)

MANILA, Philippines — Senators said they believe the reclamation project in Manila Bay caused the knee-deep flooding outside the Senate compound in Pasay City on Wednesday.

In a text message to reporters, former Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri admitted to believing that reclamation was one of the factors why a portion of Diokno Boulevard was flooded.

“This, I believe, is the consequence of all the reclamation happening in Manila Bay, wala ng malabasan na flood water dito sa Pasay at Manila,” he said.

(This, I believe, is the consequence of all the reclamation happening in Manila Bay; there is no outlet for flood water here in Pasay and Manila.)

“Babaha at babaha na palagi dyan sa atin tuwing uulan nang malakas,” he added.

(It will always result in flooding every time it rains heavily.)

Sen. Joel Villanueva also blamed the reclamation project for the widespread flooding in Bulacan, his hometown.

“Reclamation pa more!” his message to reporters read.

(That’s because of reclamation)

“Imagine, for the past two years — including this year — we have this P1-billion a day flood control budget for [the] Department of Public Works and Highways alone — P1B a day. Please tell me if anyone here can see at least an improvement sa mga baha (in addressing floods),” he added.

Citing data from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Villanueva said the following areas in Bulacan are prone to flooding:

•  Calumpit
• Hagonoy
• Guiguinto
• Balagtas
• Obando
• Bocaue
• Malolos
• Paombong
• Marilao

It was the combined effects of Typhoon Carina and the southwest monsoon that brought torrential rains over Metro Manila and nearby provinces on Tuesday and Wednesday.

As of posting, no tropical cyclone wind signal is raised over Metro Manila, but the state weather bureau warned that apart from intense rains, strong to gale-force gusts over the region are also expected.

Carina, the country’s third tropical cyclone in 2024, is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility on Wednesday or early Thursday morning.