Floodwater in Manila underpass still being pumped out

Lagusnilad. PHOTO BY RICHARD A. REYES

MANILA, Philippines—Efforts to pump out floodwater from Lagusnilad underpass in Manila continue Wednesday evening despite flood levels in other areas in Metro Manila caused by heavy rains brought by southwest monsoon enhanced by tropical storm “Maring” have generally subsided.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Francis Tolentino said eight vacuum equipment, along with several others from water companies, have been deployed to pump out the roughly 500,000 liters of floodwater that submerged the Lagusnilad underpass.

Since intermittent rains continue, Tolentino said it may take them until Thursday to fully pump the water out of the underpass.

“Baka abutin pa bukas kasi may pag-ulan pa at yung high tide na nagsimula kaninang umaga, “Tolentino said.

The MMDA has a pumping station in the area but Tolentino said the volume of floodwaters in the past few days is too huge for it.

MMDA-Flood Control Unit said that floodwaters in almost all parts of the Metro have already subsided.