Quezon City Drainage System Overwhelmed by Intense Rainfall
Quezon City officials reported that the city’s drainage system could not handle the massive downpour on Saturday afternoon, which surpassed the one-hour rainfall record set during Typhoon Ondoy in 2009. This unprecedented rainfall caused severe flooding in many parts of the city, leaving residents struggling with submerged streets and homes.
According to local authorities, 36 out of the 142 barangays in Quezon City were severely affected. The hardest-hit areas were primarily in Districts 1, 3, and 4, where flooding reached unprecedented levels. “Hindi kinaya ng drainage system ng lungsod ang napakaraming tubig-ulan sa napakaikling oras kaya nagresulta ito ng malalang pagbaha, maging sa ilang lugar na hindi karaniwang binabaha,” community members said, emphasizing the drainage system’s inability to cope with such a sudden and intense rainfall.
Unprecedented Rainfall Exceeds Ondoy Record
Preliminary data from rain gauges and weather stations across Metro Manila revealed that rainfall in Quezon City and nearby Nangka in Marikina was described as “phenomenal” by experts from the University of the Philippines Resilience Institute (UP RI) and UP NOAH (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards). The peak rainfall reached 121 millimeters in a single hour, significantly higher than the approximately 90 millimeters per hour recorded during Typhoon Ondoy.
Local leaders noted that this extraordinary weather event overwhelmed existing infrastructure, causing flooding even in barangays that are not typically prone to such hazards. The scale of the rainfall highlights the urgent need for sustainable and comprehensive flood management solutions.
Drainage Master Plan as a Long-Term Solution
In response to the crisis, city officials reiterated the importance of the Drainage Master Plan (DMP) as a strategic framework to address the city’s drainage challenges. They stressed that the DMP aims to provide a long-term, effective approach rather than relying on unstudied or unsanctioned flood control projects.
“The local government will continue to push for the full implementation of the DMP as a long-term and effective solution to flooding in the city, instead of flood control projects that were not reviewed or studied by the local government,” community leaders affirmed.
Comprehensive Coverage and Collaboration
The DMP, developed in partnership with UP RI, seeks to identify and implement the best solutions, including physical upgrades and modifications to improve drainage and flood management. This plan covers all barangays in Quezon City, integrating 44 tributaries and five major river systems within the city’s jurisdiction, alongside man-made drainage systems constructed by various government agencies.
Officials reported that this collaborative effort aims to strengthen resilience against future flooding events and mitigate the impacts of extreme weather occurrences.
For more news and updates on Quezon City drainage system, visit Filipinokami.com.
