Monster monsoon: The aftermath

Just when many thought Typhoon Ondoy was the worst we have seen, in comes this monster monsoon. In 22 hours, the amount of rainfall reached 472 millimeters, higher than Ondoy’s record of 455 mm in 24 hours. For the millions who were displaced, the monsoon rains seemed nothing new at first, but then it just kept going and going, with many unable to forget their horror as they watched the water start to rise. Many stubbornly tried to hold on but were forced to abandon their homes quickly when it became apparent the rains would not stop. The wrath of nature became evident in the submerged houses, floating furniture, people wading in waist-high water, shivering families huddled at the roof of their homes and other scenes that looked straight out of a disaster movie. 

Despite the lack of sufficient rescue vessels and equipment, the first to respond was the MMDA under Chairman Francis Tolentino (although the latest news reports say their pumps ran out of fuel. What the…?), with the Army, Coast Guard and other disaster response agencies following closely. Anyway, unlike the past, PAG-ASA was more vigilant in issuing weather bulletins and updates, while many appreciated the no-nonsense posture of Undersecretary Benito Ramos of the NDRRMC. 

This time the local government executives were better prepared and did not wait for the national government to come to their rescue — as they themselves initiated evacuation efforts, forcing stubborn constituents to leave their inundated homes. While floodwaters are beginning to subside in many parts of Metro Manila, people should realize now more than ever that they can no longer be complacent because we have not seen the last of these freaky weather disturbances, with long dry spells and stronger rains becoming the “new normal” due to climate change. According to Dr. Mahar Lagmay of the DOST, the amount of rainfall recorded in less than a day exceeded the monthly average — exacerbated by a weather phenomena described as “a monsoon mating with a typhoon” that produced the kind of monstrous torrent that is supposed to come only once in every 50 years.  

The sad part is that we already have so much misery around us and still, some people resort to superstition and dogmatism, blaming the recent disaster on the RH bill advocates when the real truth already stares us right in our face: Overpopulation is turning Metro Manila into a dangerous place to live in. The urban sprawl aggravated by unplanned expansion exposes cities to severe flooding and other calamities, the United Nations has warned us, zeroing in on the millions of “informal settlers” lining the rivers and creeks — the ones hardest hit by the recent floods that consequently caused many parts of the city to go under water. 

No less than environment experts like US-based geologist Kelvin Rodolfo pointed to the subsidence or sinking being experienced in Metro Manila and parts of Luzon due to the depletion of groundwater. Unmitigated population growth has resulted in a greater demand for groundwater (water located beneath the earth’s surface) with many commercial and residential areas engaged in their own extraction and well drilling operations — causing the land to sink extensively, with the condition compounded by the rise of the sea levels. The fact is, Metro Manila is even in greater danger because it is already located below sea level. It is no longer farfetched to think that when we wake up one day — Metro Manila would have been literally wiped out of the map. 

Clearly, the population problem makes it much more difficult for government to address problems relative to basic services like education, healthcare, and calamity/disaster mitigation. We are glad to hear from our classmate and tocayo, DPWH Secretary Babes Singson that President Aquino has set the wheels in motion for several projects aimed at addressing floods and related disasters, among them the construction of a P2.2 billion eight kilometer dike (for the next two to three years) traversing Meycauayan River in Bulacan. Catch basins and embankments at Marikina River tributaries and in the upstream portions of San Mateo, Rodriguez and Antipolo will also be constructed to prevent the rush of floodwaters into Metro Manila. 

There is also a suggestion that we study the Las Vegas water and flood control plan with “detention basins” and underground storm drains built specifically to hold run-off water coming from the surrounding mountain ranges and prevent flooding in risk areas along the Western side. The system cost $1.6 billion and it took them several years to finish the project. Former Ambassador (now columnist) Bobbi Tiglao has a good point: If government can shell out billions in cash doles for the poor, then it can afford to allocate the same amount for a comprehensive flood control program, allocating a percentage from PAGCOR and PCSO earnings for the purchase of rescue equipment, construction of evacuation centers and relocation of residents in risk areas.   

The waters may have subsided for now, but the worst is yet to come especially for those who have yet to pick up their lives and recover from the aftermath of the monster monsoon. No one can ever imagine the misery that flood victims feel as they wade through the muddy floodwaters, their cherished possessions rolled up in a bundle — crying out for help. What happened this week can only be heartbreaking and sad — and perhaps the only way one can feel it — is through the tear-filled eyes of this poor little seven-year-old girl in an evacuation center who was heard repeatedly saying in between sobs, “Rain, rain please go away… spare us poor people for today.”

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