Problema sa baha sa Metro Manila at mga kalapit na probinsya (Full episode) | Reporter’s Notebook
Kaunting ulan lang ay mabilis nang lumulubog ang maraming kalsada sa Metro Manila. Kaya naman malaking tulong sana ang mga flood control project ng pamahalaan para maiwasan ang mabilis na pagtaas ng tubig tuwing umuulan. Kumusta na nga ba ang mga ganitong proyekto ng gobyerno? Muling balikan ang ating pagtalakay sa isyu na ‘yan sa video na ito.
Transcript
00:00 [Sounds of heavy rain]
00:10 Whenever there is a strong storm, it is usually followed by heavy flooding.
00:15 [Sounds of heavy rain]
00:21 But now, even with a few minutes of rain,
00:25 [Sounds of heavy rain]
00:28 there are places in the country that are already drowning in flood.
00:31 [Sounds of heavy rain]
00:35 Last week, after more than half an hour of rain,
00:39 [Sounds of heavy rain]
00:41 a river overflowed under Balintawak Underpass in Quezon City.
00:45 [Sounds of heavy rain]
00:47 There is no vehicle that can pass over the water.
00:50 [Sounds of heavy rain]
00:51 A motorist just picked up his motorcycle to cross the river.
00:54 [Sounds of heavy rain]
00:55 In this picture taken in Barangay Botocan, Quezon City,
00:59 only a car can see the river.
01:02 [Sounds of heavy rain]
01:05 This part of the Sentryist in Quezon City,
01:08 which is above the water, was not able to cross the river.
01:10 [Sounds of heavy rain]
01:13 In this part of 4th Avenue in Caloocan City,
01:16 the barricades were seen being flooded.
01:21 [Sounds of heavy rain]
01:22 In the CCTV footage we found from MMDA,
01:27 the water level rose in some streets within 30 minutes.
01:32 [Sounds of heavy rain]
01:34 Just like the video taken in Araneta Avenue in Quezon City,
01:38 the water level rose slowly,
01:40 making the roads heavy with traffic.
01:43 [Sounds of heavy rain]
01:44 This is also the situation in this part of Spain, in Manila.
01:48 At 6 in the evening, it started to rain.
01:52 [Sounds of heavy rain]
01:53 After more than 30 minutes,
01:55 some cars avoided the flooded road.
02:01 [Sounds of heavy rain]
02:02 Cars also avoided the flooding
02:06 in this part of EDSA in Camp Aguinaldo.
02:09 [Sounds of heavy rain]
02:12 In the town of San Simon in Pampanga,
02:14 after the rain, a flood control project was started.
02:19 [Sounds of heavy rain]
02:25 What is the cause of the rapid flooding of some areas in Metro Manila
02:29 and other parts of the country?
02:31 [Sounds of heavy rain]
02:34 [Music]
02:40 In the whole of Central Luzon, the province of Pampanga is considered
02:44 the catchment basin of flood water.
02:46 [Sounds of heavy rain]
02:47 Catchment basin is called the lowest part of a place
02:50 where rainwater is collected, or water from the mountains.
02:56 [Music]
02:57 That's why some flood control projects were carried out in the whole province.
03:01 One of them is the construction of a river wall in San Simon, Pampanga.
03:05 [Music]
03:06 The problem is not yet solved, and two days before the declaration of completion date,
03:13 the project was already completed.
03:16 Someone posted on social media about a flood control project
03:20 in San Simon, Pampanga on June 19.
03:22 This is his social media post.
03:25 That's why we are here in San Simon, Pampanga now,
03:27 to evaluate this project.
03:29 This is the chart of the flood control project.
03:33 It is stated here in detail that the contract cost is more than P140 million.
03:40 If their timetable was followed, the project should have been completed by June 21 this year.
03:47 [Music]
03:49 The length of the concrete river wall is 300 meters,
03:52 and the length of the part that is being built is 95 meters.
03:56 The strong winds in the barangay were heard between 2 to 3 o'clock in the morning.
04:03 The water was flowing through the market.
04:07 [Music]
04:09 The river wall is supposed to stop the erosion of the land on the side of the Pampanga River.
04:14 The water is gradually eating the land, especially when the water is strong.
04:20 [Music]
04:21 This will also serve as a barrier so that the water does not flow into the river whenever it rains heavily.
04:27 DPWH approved the construction of this riprap because the road is running out of water.
04:33 Aside from that, it is also a solution to the flood here in the town of San Simon.
04:36 Because every time the water of the river rises,
04:40 some barangays in this town are drowning in the flood.
04:44 [Music]
04:45 In this video that was shot in 2016 in the same place, in San Simon, Pampanga,
04:50 you can see that the entire area is covered in water.
04:53 Of course, we are smiling and we are hoping that this will end.
04:58 [Music]
05:00 First of all, our road will be better.
05:03 Then, it will have slope protection. It will not be flooded again.
05:07 What is the effect of the lack of riprap?
05:11 It will delay our hope that our road will be better.
05:16 [Music]
05:22 That day, we caught up with Maileen driving her tricycle beside the river wall.
05:28 [Music]
05:29 Her two children followed her from school.
05:33 [Music]
05:34 The part of the river wall is white, so it is difficult to pass.
05:39 [Music]
05:40 Their road was also affected by the river wall.
05:44 If it rains heavily, they will commute to that place.
05:48 They will walk.
05:50 [Music]
05:54 According to Maileen's eldest daughter, Stephanie,
05:57 they heard that the flood control project was stopped.
06:00 What did you think when you saw that the project was stopped?
06:04 I was shocked.
06:06 [Music]
06:08 If it rains heavily, you cannot pass. You will be forced to walk there until you reach school.
06:14 The road is damaged. Our shoes are always white.
06:21 Sometimes, our clothes get dirty.
06:23 When we go to school, we get angry with our teacher. We are late.
06:30 [Music]
06:32 Their dream of a safe and proper road should have been completed by June 21, 2018,
06:38 but it is still not fulfilled.
06:40 What should we do? It is damaged again.
06:42 We don't know how it was damaged.
06:45 The construction workers are teaching us.
06:51 [Music]
06:53 According to DPWH Region 3, which is the implementing agency of the project,
06:58 [Music]
07:00 the water pipes under the project are the reason for the construction.
07:04 When you investigated, why did you give the water pipes?
07:06 The water pipes were saturated.
07:08 It was saturated.
07:10 Because of the...
07:12 The water was already wet.
07:14 It was already submerged in the water.
07:16 Because there was a pipe under it.
07:18 There was a leak in that portion.
07:20 Where is the pipe, ma'am?
07:22 It is in front of me. It is already hidden.
07:25 They cut it.
07:28 They cut it because when we saw it, the contractor cut it immediately
07:34 because we were surprised that the water pipes were already wet.
07:38 Did you have any accident here?
07:40 I don't know any accident because I just change my water pipes everyday.
07:46 But did you have any wrong doing?
07:50 I didn't see anything.
07:52 I didn't see anything.
07:54 According to a structural engineer that we talked to,
07:58 the project was just started and the contractor and DPWH
08:03 assured that there is no obstruction in the construction of the flood control project.
08:07 The plans must be properly reviewed by the contractor or by the original structural engineer
08:16 to make sure that after spending again that big amount,
08:20 the risk of the same problem will happen again.
08:24 I also noticed that for a 90-meter stretch, over a 300-meter length of work,
08:33 the effect of the flood on the waterline is very big.
08:37 Maybe 10 meters or less can be effective.
08:40 But not for the stretch of 90 meters which is about one-third of the whole project.
08:49 DPWH Region 3 insisted that the agency and the contractor studied thoroughly
08:55 before starting the project.
08:57 Did the contractor neglect the project?
09:00 They didn't neglect it.
09:02 They followed our instructions and they followed the specifications based on the plan.
09:06 Their pipe is already next to our DQ.
09:11 We don't notice it. If there is a problem, we will transfer it.
09:14 How much did you pay the contractor?
09:17 60%.
09:19 60% of the 140 million pesos was already paid by the contractor.
09:24 The companies, 3rd Star Builders and DL Cervantes Construction, are the contractors of this project.
09:33 We tried to get their permission to know why the river wall collapsed in the middle of the construction.
09:42 But the spokesperson of the companies said that they submitted a report to DPWH Region 3 about the collapse.
09:50 DPWH Region 3 assured that the contractors will pay the expenses for the repair of the damaged flood control project.
10:00 They will construct at their own expense.
10:04 We will not give them a single cent.
10:07 This means that there is no need for an additional budget.
10:10 How long will it take before the repair is completed?
10:13 One to two months.
10:15 We also visited another river wall in Mandulog River in Iligan City, Mindanao.
10:22 DPWH Region 10 is the agency that carried out the project since 2015, the time of the previous administration.
10:33 According to the completion report from DPWH, the flood control dike was constructed in the Chamna Bahagi or Faces.
10:40 The fund is one billion pesos for the construction of these ripraps in Mandulog River.
10:46 The ripraps are needed so that the water from the river will not overflow.
10:51 But the flood control dike looks like it's broken or cracked if you look at the aerial footage.
11:01 The completion of that project is more or less 70%.
11:06 The remaining 30% is the road right of way that we are negotiating until now.
11:16 Some are not cooperating and the documents are not yet complete.
11:21 That's why it will take a long time to settle the repair.
11:27 According to the study of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau,
11:31 there are 400 barangays that are considered highly susceptible to flooding or flood prone.
11:37 In Metro Manila, the main flood control project is the pumping station.
11:43 The design of these is from the canals, estuary and other waterways.
11:48 The water should be directed to the pumping station before it is taken out to the rivers like Pasig River,
11:55 Paranaque River, San Juan River until the water in Manila Bay is completely taken out.
12:01 In other parts of Metro Manila, the water is directed to the Mangahan Floodway
12:08 that will bring water to Laguna Dibay that serves as a water reservoir.
12:13 In total, the pumping station in Manila is about 52.
12:22 The question is, why despite the existence of these, the flood still continues?
12:27 According to the urban planner, Paolo Alcazaren,
12:33 the waterways in Metro Manila are outdated.
12:37 The capacity of these is only 15 millimeters of flood water.
12:41 But the rainwater last Thursday, for example, reached 85 millimeters.
12:47 We really need to be equal in the level of development and to project the level of development,
12:54 type of development, complexity, and density of development.
12:58 How many housing units in the condominium complex?
13:05 Before, the area was supported by 20 families, now it's 2,000.
13:12 These are our waterways, clean and used for transport.
13:18 The movement of goods and people is by canal, like Venice.
13:24 Bernham said that our waterways are like the canals of Venice.
13:30 What happened? We poured our canals,
13:34 they were filled with water, made it realistic, and our drainage system was lost.
13:41 Our other pumps are 30 years old, but they are still operational, maintained by the MDA.
13:49 But our old pumps, although operational,
13:53 we cannot ensure the efficiency of 100 percent because of old age.
13:59 So, it's scheduled to be rehabilitated.
14:06 The waterways are outdated, and there are still many obstructions.
14:11 First, the garbage dump.
14:14 One of our goals back then was this part of the San Juan River in Calentong, Mandaluyong City.
14:21 Here in the river, all kinds of garbage you can think of are scattered.
14:26 This is the literal garbage river.
14:30 The situation here is not far from the Estero de Magdalena in Santa Cruz, Manila.
14:35 The Estero is almost completely covered in garbage.
14:39 Of course, you will clean it now.
14:43 When you come back tomorrow, there will be a lot of garbage.
14:46 It will be repeated.
14:48 Another reason for the waterways to be blocked are the informal settlers living on the side.
14:56 When they need to pee, they pee here.
15:00 They do it here, but the waterfalls are in the Estero.
15:05 According to the law, there should be no infrastructure or house on any waterway within 15 to 20 meters.
15:14 But it is clear that in other places in Manila, this is not followed.
15:19 It's not just the informal ones who throw garbage.
15:23 Even the formal settlers and establishments are thrown there
15:27 because there is no policing, no fines, and we don't have a carrot and stick for them.
15:35 People have no sense of civic consciousness.
15:39 They throw garbage and think that there is no repercussion, but there is.
15:43 At present, more than 100,000 families live in the so-called waterways like this,
15:53 which are also considered as danger zones.
15:57 When it comes to pumping stations like this one in Pasay, Navotas, and Manila,
16:03 garbage dumps are still a problem.
16:06 That's why the waterways are almost not moving.
16:09 Our informal settlers are standing on water, not just on cement.
16:15 Aside from that, their solid waste is directly and indiscriminately dumped in the waterways.
16:25 Aside from pumping stations,
16:31 one of the biggest flood control projects in Metro Manila is the Blue Mintrip Flood Interceptor Project.
16:37 This is a catchment area that is adjacent to the floodwater in Quezon City and Manila.
16:43 But until now, it is not yet completed.
16:47 The worst part is the rain that fell last Thursday.
16:53 Most of the rain falls in Quezon City and Manila.
16:57 Aside from the problems that flood control projects in Metro Manila face,
17:06 another one that Alcazaren is talking about, which is the flood disaster,
17:10 is the overdevelopment in Manila.
17:12 The supply, drainage, and power should be proportioned to the intensity of development.
17:19 That is the problem.
17:23 Local authorities want more intensive development because that is a sign of improvement in their cities.
17:31 But there is a need for infrastructure to support them.
17:37 If only here, the development is improved,
17:41 the problem will be thrown away in the surrounding development.
17:45 That is why you need coordination with adjoining LGUs and with the region.
17:50 But the water is entering.
17:52 One of Alcazaren's suggestions is to use the so-called purview cement for the roads in Metro Manila.
18:00 So, all that water can enter the cistern or it can enter the gravel bed.
18:09 Under the Metro Manila Flood Control Management Project,
18:12 the government of the Philippines will borrow 500 million dollars from the World Bank
18:18 and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank for the construction of various projects
18:22 to solve the flood problem.
18:25 Like the construction of a dam in the Upper Marikina River Catchment Area,
18:29 improvement of urban drainage, modernization of Metro Manila pumping stations,
18:35 and improvement of flood forecasting.
18:37 All the projects and programs that we will implement in Metro Manila
18:42 are consumed by the Flood Management Master Plan of Metro Manila.
18:47 The purpose of this project is to modernize the drainage area in the priority flood prone areas of Metro Manila.
18:56 In the report released by the Commission on Audit for the MMDA last year,
19:01 from 2014 to 2016, the total project cost of flood control and sewage projects in the National Capital Region reached almost 800 million pesos.
19:13 And from 2014 to 2016, the total cost of flood control projects reached 168 million pesos
19:22 that were not completed within specific contract time and required completion date.
19:27 [Music]
19:31 In many flood prone areas in the country,
19:34 the cost of flood control projects is also a million pesos.
19:39 The problem is that sometimes, the projects are not effective.
19:45 Or it is not destroyed, not even affected.
19:49 Until next Thursday, I am Mackie Pulido.
19:53 I am Jun Veneracion and this is what's on our Reporter's Notebook.
19:58 [MUSIC PLAYING]