On Thursday, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the reexamination of flood control project designs amid flooding in several areas brought by Typhoon Carina and the southwest monsoon.
The statement was made during his visit and inspection in the cities of Valenzuela and Navotas. The two cities mentioned took the hardest hit among the affected places in Metro Manila.
“We have to relook, we have to reexamine some of the designs of our flood control (projects). Dahil for example, the amount of water was as not as bad as Ondoy, but the effect was greater than Ondoy," Marcos told reporters.
Despite adding flood control projects in recent years, more areas are submerged with floodwater, compared to the time of Ondoy. Marcos added that Typhoon Carina had greater effects than that of Ondoy, depsite the lower amount of rainfall.
Changes in climate and improper garbage disposal were also mentioned by Marcos as one of the factors in the massive flooding in Metro Manila. Pumping stations in Valenzuela and Navotas were not effective, as both were clogged with garbage.
At the same time, in the city of Navotas, floods were aggravated by the damaged navigational gate, the supposed protection over flooding and high tides.
Metro Manila and some areas in the country have declared a state of calamity as Typhoon Carina intensified into a Super Typhoon since early Wednesday.
The typhoon has exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility as of 6:20 AM, Thursday according to an update by PAGASA.
