Drainage capacity, overpopulation blamed for Metro Manila flooding

MANILA, Philippines — Metro Manila’s overpopulation and the overcapacity of its urban drainage systems are to blame for the perennial flooding problem in the National Capital Region, an official of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said yesterday.

DPWH Undersecretary Cathy Cabral told the Saturday news forum that Metro Manila has exceeded its carrying capacity of water largely contributing to the recent extreme flooding during the onslaught of habagat and the tropical cyclones Carina and Butchoy.

She emphasized the need to decentralize economic activity to prevent overburdening urban centers, giving Metro Manila and other metropolitan areas as examples of situations where their drainage capacities are already overburdened.

She added that the DPWH is actively assisting in the relocation of informal settlers to address flooding in Metro Manila, as overpopulation is said to be contributing to clogging of the metro’s waterways.

Cabral highlighted DPWH’s 5,500 completed flood control projects from July 2022 to May 2024, most of which have started construction even prior to July 2022.

She added that the DPWH also has more than 5,000 other flood control projects that are still ongoing nationwide.

As of 2023, Metro Manila has a population of 14.9 million.

In a separate statement, Department of Environment and Natural Resources Assistant Secretary Noralene Uy said that anything related to poor urban planning or development affects flooding in highly urbanized cities.

She added that their agency is already working on urban greening projects in Metro Manila, encouraging local government units “to allot some space in their communities for multipurpose use such as recreation and conservation.”