Classes suspended in most Camanava areas

Manila Bay high tide that rose to two-meters – the highest recorded level for the year – yesterday kept at least 45 barangays in Malabon and Valenzuela Cities, and the coastal town of Navotas under water.

Classes in all levels in Malabon and Navotas, and in selected schools in flooded barangays in Valenzuela’s first district were suspended.

Last week, heavy rains brought by tropical depression "Jolina" submerged the Caloocan-Malabon-Navotas-Valenzuela, known as the Camanava Area, in floodwaters that reached as high as chest level.

Abbi Balatbat of the Malabon Public Information Office (PIO) said yesterday’s high tide was the highest recorded for the year. Of Malabon’s 21 barangays, only Potrero was not flooded because of its relatively higher elevation, Balatbat said. Some barangays such as Panghulo, Dampalit, and Tinajeros were still under chest-deep water, he added.

Knee-deep floodwaters in Gov. Pascual, Gen. Luna, and Rizal Avenues– the city’s main roads – caused several light vehicles to stall, Balatbat said.

In Valenzuela, local officials said that Barangays Wawang Pulo, Balangkas, Coloong 1 and 2, Isla, Tagalog, Hulong Bato, Rincon, and Polo were under knee to waist deep floodwaters.

Last Sunday, a portion of Barangay Villa Pariancillo was submerged in eight-feet deep of floodwater and affected 30 families.

In Navotas, most of the municipality’s 14 barangays experienced knee-deep floods. Roads became passable to all types of vehicles by noon after the floodwaters subsided, except for the streets in Barangays Daang-Hari and San Jose due to their poor drainage systems, local officials said.

In Caloocan, streets surrounding the Northern Police District Office in the Dagat-Dagatan area were flooded with waters reaching just below the knees.