Marcos calls for more impounding systems to curb flooding

A swollen river in Barangay San Miguel, San Antonio, Zambales after Typhoon Carina and the southwest monsoon or “habagat” whipped many parts of Luzon earlier this week. (Joanna Aglibot / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

In a situation briefing in Bulacan on Saturday, Marcos stressed that many parts of Central Luzon were submerged in floods following the torrential rains brought by Typhoon Carina and the southwest monsoon or “habagat.”

“‘Yung tubig walang pupuntahan e. Wala talagang pupuntahan. Mataas yung tubig ng dagat. Mataas yung tubig ng ilog, may baha pa dun sa mga farmlands,” the President said.

(The water isn’t going anywhere. It’s really not going anywhere. The sea level is high. The river water is high, and there’s flooding in the farmlands.)

“Ang laki ng bumaba na tubig, sabay sabay, bigla. Hindi na nakayanan ng ating mga slope protection, ng ating flood control, ng ating mga dike, so we have to find another way to do it. Kaya palagay ko ‘yung impounding talaga, ‘yung ponds ang pinakamagiging solusyon dyan eh,” he added.

(There was a large volume of water all at once. Our slope protection, flood control, and dikes couldn’t handle it. So, we have to find another way to address this. I think impounding, like creating ponds, will be the best solution.)

The Philippine National Police has so far reported  34 deaths due to heavy rains triggered by Carina and the “habagat” as of July 26.

Twelve people died in Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon),  11 in Metro Manila, nine in Central Luzon and two in the Bicol region,  according to reports from PNP regional offices.