THE METRO MANILA FLOODING

Using mathematical calculations, input would be equal to output when flood water is not
accumulated in the middle of the process of transporting flood water from all of its source inputs
from Metro Manila and the nearby province of Bulacan that goes directly to its output towards
the Laguna de Bay and Manila Bay. Less input from water flowing down from Sierra Madre
Mountains is also a deterrent to accumulate water in the process of flooding.

For many years Metro Manila flooding has become another social menace as it becomes
already a standard norm as flooding all over Metropolis happens every rainy season and during
high tide moments in the lower area, particularly of Malabon and Navotas. Every time a typhoon
is visiting the country, the authorities seemed to just accept the fate of flooding due to more
rains pouring in the Metropolis.

Less Water Input from Source

Planting of Billions of trees as a major project of DENR under Secretary Paje in the previous
administration did not happen. Planting of trees though, initiated by concerned citizens and
private institutions were not enough.The forest trees in the Sierra Madre Mountains were
becoming denuded. You can actually see it using Google Map application software. More brown
color means that no more trees in that area of the mountain.

The water that was supposed to be contained in the mountain is flowing in great volume and
directly towards the nearest dams and lower portion area in Bulacan going to Metro Manila.
When dams are immediately filled up by a large amount of rainwater, the authorities have no
other option but to release this great volume of water to the community affecting the nearby
Metro Manila.

Flood Water Accumulation in the Middle of the Process

The population explosion in the Metropolis became now a social havoc. The higher the number
of people congesting a certain area is also tantamount resulting to a high probability of
accumulating so much solid waste further aggravated by the lack of discipline of some people
inhabiting Metro Manila area. This solid waste clogged waterways that prevented smooth
flowing of flood water going towards the Manila Bay.

Moreover, the capacity of drainage and waterways are no longer enough to facilitate fast
movement of flood water. Maintenance management was poor and improvement in the flood
infrastructures was inadequate and mostly depended on a wait and see attitude unless affected
group of people initiated a complaint in the government authorities.

For many years, the government is not implementing effective urban planning and development
as it continuously allows construction of more housing facilities and condominiums that
continuously increasing the problem of congestion in the Metro Manila that added in the
production of a great number of solid wastes. Effective solid waste management, therefore,
must be seriously implemented and not use it as a source of corruption.

Problems in the Outputs, The Laguna de Bay and Manila Bay

Laguna de Bay

Laguna de Bay is already shallow. From 14 meters depth, it is now 3 meters. The soil erosion of
the Sierra Madre mountains including the debris coming from the Metropolis caused the
shallowing of the Laguna de Bay. The volume of water from nearby cities and municipalities
including those coming from the Sierra Madre is too much to be contained in the bay resulting in
overflow, flooding all the lowland areas beside the bay. The government authorities have three
options to undertake. One is to dredge the bay to bring back its original depth. Second is to
construct the great wall originally planned and the third one is to construct a large canal from
Laguna de Bay to Manila Bay passing Paranaque City as recommended by Architect Jun
Palapoz. If the budget is available a combination of the two is a total solution.

Manila Bay

The perennial debris from the Metropolis is an eyesore in the Manila Bay every time there was a
typhoon. The people and authorities seemed to become accustomed in cleaning the bay without
focusing the real cause of the problem which was people-oriented due to lack of discipline. A
massive indoctrination in the Barangay level must be continuously implemented and sustained.
It should not be based on rewards but based on heartfelt desire of making his community clean
and in order. Rewards promote "ningas cogon" attitude where advocacies and projects died
down when rewards are stopped due to budget non-availability.

Cavitex, Coastal Area Highway, and Pasay Reclaimed Areas

These three built additional reclaimed areas though has added up into additional transport road
capacity and for commercial and government use, it became also a source of accumulation of
water in the area of Las Pinas City, Paranaque City, Bacoor City and Pasay City. Waterways
systems to exit flood water were not enough resulting in slow flowing movement going to the
Manila Bay. The government authorities must look immediately this matter in the design of the
so-called reclamation that would act as a perennial headache along these areas in the future.