Addressing flooding
ALMOST throughout the year, flooding continues to worry residents in many low-lying communities not only in Metropolitan Manila but also in other parts of the country.
During a heavy downpour, rivers, lakes, and esteros overflow their banks because these are clogged by garbage thrown into these waterways by residents and passersby.
Rampaging floodwaters from these waterways flood surrounding areas, prompting concerned state authorities to suspend work in public and private offices and classes.
Aware of this, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has installed booster pumps along three major esteros in Tondo, Sta Cruz and Quiapo districts in Manila.
Worth multimillion pesos, these submersible axial booster pumps are seen to move water away from vulnerable locations in the three heavily-populated districts.
The booster pumps will not only drain large amount of water from low-lying areas to the main drainage and to Manila Bay, but also separate debris from the floowaters.
The booster pumps were installed to increase discharge and carrying capacity of the esteros. Each of the pump is capable of discharging one cubic meter of floodwater per second.
“Talagang malaking tulong ang mga booster pumps na ito para ma-address ang madalas na pagbaha sa mga mabababang lugar sa Manila,” an elderly resident of Quiapo, Manila said.
The resident, who owns a small eatery, said he is forced to close his eatery when the place is flooded. “Gutom ang inaabot ng aking pamilya kapag may baha sa lugar,” he lamented.
Hopefully, the government, through concerned agencies, installs more booster pumps not only in Manila but also in other flood-prone towns and cities across the country.
Dapat lang kasi maraming lugar sa bansa ang madalas bahain ngayon dulot ng lumalalang climate change.
