Flooding likely to remain in Malabon, Navotas as floodgate under repair

Flood along C4 Road, Barangay Longos in Malabon City due to persistent rains caused by Typhoon Carina-enhanced southwest monsoon on Wednesday, July 24, 2024. Photo by Job Natac.

MANILA, Philippines — Flooding is expected to remain in Malabon and Navotas as the damaged floodgate is still under repair, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) acting chair Don Artes said on Tuesday.

According to Artes, the repair of the Malabon-Navotas River floodgate may take “more or less one month” as the desilting process is currently being undertaken around the navigational gate, which is expected to take two weeks.

READ: MMDA aims to fully repair Malabon-Navotas River floodgate by August

It means Navotas and Malabon should brace for flooding should there be heavy rains as experienced during the onslaught of Super Typhoon Carina and the enhanced southwest monsoon, he explained.

“I think there is already water in three barangays in Malabon and two in Navotas at high tide. So, if a storm and heavy rain accompany it, the flood water will be higher in that area,” he said in Filipino.

“So, yes I think, while doing that, flooding in Malabon and Navotas cannot be avoided,” he added.

Artes also said the effects of Super Typhoon Carina and the enhanced southwest monsoon made it difficult for the MMDA and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to finish its repairs on the floodgate.

“Hopefully now that it’s low tide in the area, the repairs will go faster as we can maximize it,” he said in Filipino.

Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan floated possible engineering intervention to impede the flow of water going into Malabon and Navotas, but he admitted that it would be challenging as the two cities are already susceptible to high tide.

Artes said the floodgate may already be repaired before the engineering intervention can be applied.

“So I think repairing the navigational gate remains to be the best solution,” he added.

Artes, however, said that the long-term solution is still the construction of another floodgate.

The floodgate was damaged last June after a barge forcefully passed through the channel, resulting in flooding in Malabon and Navotas.

READ: Damaged gate would’ve prevented Navotas floods – Rep. Tiangco