Floods submerge Metro roads

PARTS of Chino Roces Avenue in Makati City, including the area in front of the Inquirer office, are submerged in gutter-deep floodwaters following a thunderstorm. Alexis Corpuz

MANILA, Philippines—A thunderstorm on Tuesday afternoon caused flash floods which led to heavy traffic in many areas in Metro Manila, a perennial problem which the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) attributed to improper garbage disposal and a flawed drainage system.

The MMDA flood control team said that the sudden downpour left impassable to all types of vehicles several roads, including the South Superhighway-Osmeña/Buendia in Makati City, due to knee-deep floodwaters. The Pasong Tamo tunnel on Edsa Magallanes was almost half-flooded.

Gutter-deep floods were also reported by the MMDA on Edsa Quezon Avenue, Timog Avenue, Edsa Santolan, Edsa P. Tuazon, Mabini to UN Avenue in Manila, Edsa Aurora, Edsa Shaw and Gil Puyat Avenue.

Flood Control and Sewerage Management Office head Maxima Quiambao said that drainage inlets on the flooded roads were not able to cope with the huge amount of rain that fell Tuesday afternoon.

MMDA Chair Francis Tolentino also cited this reason during a forum at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza on Tuesday. According to him, the flood problem in the metropolis can be attributed to the undercapacity of the drainage system.

At the same time, he reiterated that the improper disposal of garbage was another contributing factor.

“A household in the Metro is estimated to contribute about 1.5 kilos of garbage a day,” he added as he renewed his call for the use of incinerators.