MANILA, Philippines — Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) General Manager Nicholas Torre III on Friday said early May rains exposed gaps in Metro Manila’s flood control readiness, as the agency moved to tighten inspections of drainage systems, pumping stations, and private infrastructure linked to flooding incidents.
Torre admitted that the initial heavy downpours revealed vulnerabilities in flood preparedness, with several areas inundated even after relatively light rainfall despite pre-season desilting and estero cleanup operations.
He said the initial downpours effectively served as a “de facto audit” of the system, revealing areas where waterways remained undersized or clogged, drainage systems were blocked, and some pumping stations may be underperforming or non-operational.
Torre said the agency was now applying a “surgical” inspection approach, targeting specific flood-prone locations to determine whether the cause lies in waterways, drainage systems, or pumping station capacity.
He also flagged issues involving private concessionaires and infrastructure developers, saying some projects were found improperly discharging water from downspouts directly onto roads instead of connecting to drainage systems.
He said the MMDA has met with concerned parties to demand rectification, warning that continued non-compliance could lead to public call-out and penalties.
“If they still fail to comply with connecting their downspouts to the drainage system, we will publicly call them out,” Torre said.
Torre said the agency was also coordinating with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on compliance checks, particularly on wastewater discharge requirements into waterways.
He added that enforcement efforts were also focused on establishments and larger entities, not only individuals, as part of broader compliance monitoring.
On waste management, Torre also blamed persistent garbage dumping for worsening floods in Metro Manila, waterways cleared by the MMDA were often clogged again within a week, underscoring recurring garbage problems that worsen flooding.
He said the agency collected about 1,000 tons of garbage monthly from waterways and pumping stations combined, or an estimated 12,000 tons annually — consisting of roughly 7,000 tons from waterways and 5,000 tons from pumping stations.
Torre also confirmed that around 80 pumping stations were being monitored in coordination with the Department of Public Works and Highways, with two previously identified defective units now undergoing repair, commissioning, and testing.
