MANILA, Philippines—President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said extreme rainfall driven by climate change was becoming the country’s "new normal."
In a meeting with various Cabinet secretaries at the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) head office in Pasig City, Marcos said that while there were improvements in flood-mitigating measures, climate change has intensified flooding in the country.
"Ondoy was special, it was unusual. Now, this is becoming a little bit like the new normal…This is what we are facing now because of climate change,” he said.
The president noted that while several areas in Metro Manila remaied submerged, flood levels have decreased compared to previous years.
"Before, the flood was two stories high. Now, it's only up to the knees. Another thing is that the water comes out faster. Before, people would wait for two or three days... Now, in less than a day, it's gone," Marcos said.
Marcos attributed the quicker drainage to continuous infrastructure improvements implemented over the last six to seven months.
"We enlarged the drainage systems... We replaced the ones that were made after World War II with bigger concrete tubes so that the water can flow faster," Marcos explained.
Marcos also confirmed that all 73 fixed pumping stations across Metro Manila are fully operational, complemented by 11 mobile pumping units.
MMDA mobile pumps
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) deployed mobile pumps in seven areas across Metro Manila on Wednesday to help clear floodwaters amid continued rains.
The pumps were positioned at Acacia Estate in Taguig; E. Rodriguez-Araneta Avenue in Quezon City; Roxas Boulevard in Manila; Sucat in Parañaque; Magallanes in Makati; Tumana in Marikina; and Maypajo in Caloocan.
The MMDA said that the pumps were being used to move floodwater toward nearby waterways and drainage outfalls.
MMDA Chairman Don Artes ordered the deployment as part of the agency's pre-emptive measures against heavy rains and flooding.
The deployment came as the agency continued monitoring flooded areas across Metro Manila.
In its latest flood monitoring report at 4:55 p.m., the MMDA reported flooding in four areas in Malabon City, although all remained passable to vehicles.
Floodwater along M.H. Del Pilar Street in Barangay Maysilo reached 4 inches, or half-gutter deep, while the section of the same street in Tatawid, Barangay Santulan, had 8 inches of water.
Don Basilio Bautista in Barangay Hulong Duhat had 10 inches of floodwater, or about half-knee deep.
Flooding along F. Sevilla Boulevard in Bayan reached 8 inches, or gutter deep.
All four areas remained passable to all types of vehicles, the agency said.
The agency said the flooding reports were based on monitoring from Metrobase, closed-circuit television cameras, Department of Engineering Offices and area officers.
For emergency and realtime flood updates, the agency said that the public may call to their 136 hotline.
