Storm-Enhanced Rain Floods Metro Manila

Rains caused by combined effects of tropical storm Leepi (Emong) and
southwest monsoon flooded Metro Manila suburbs as schools in the
affected areas in the capital ordered class suspensions early
Wednesday.
Leepi, the sixth major weatherdisturbance to visit the country grazed
the Philippines' eastern portion, but its effects were strong enough
to cause flooding once more in the capital region's thoroughfares,
particularly that in the Manila and Quezon City and Caloocan in the
northwest.
Traffic stood at a standstill in some areas as roads were unpassable for hours.
Aside from Metro Manila, heavy rains were also experienced in the
Central Luzon provinces of Zambales, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija and
Pampanga.
Leepi carried maximum sustained winds of 75 kph andbrought 5-15 mm of
rain per hour according to the Philippine Geophysical and Astronomic
Services Administration (PAGASA).
Leepi is expected to exit the country's area of responsibilityon
Thursday morning and head for Okinawa, Japan.
On Wednesday afternoon, President Benigno Aquino III,met with
officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and
the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to address the flooding
problem in Metro Manila and to find solutions to de-clog storm drains
of garbage and non-biodegradable detritus.
Authorities in Central Luzon had also been placed on alert.
Earlier in the day, schools anduniversities in Metro Manila's
northwest portions had issued a no classes declaration to avoid
students from being stranded in floodwaters. Therewere no disruption
in flights or conduct of business in government and private sector.
Last Monday, heavy rains lasting for several hours inundated major
thoroughfares of the city including the eight lane-wide Epifanio de
los Santos Avenueor EDSA —-Metro Manila's main road traffic artery.
The highway resembled a big parking lot of vehicles unable to move
forward because of the flood.
Reports said that aside from garbage that clogged storm drains, among
the cause of flooding were unfinished government road projects as well
as drainage blockages that were intentionally placed by unscrupulous
pedal rickshaw drivers so that they can charge extra from
ferryingpassengers from the flooded streets.
Meanwhile, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas said the government is bent on
removing informal settlers from waterways and hazard areas.
"We intend to remove these people from the waterways not just to clear
these areas ofstructures that cause flooding,but also to keep them
safe from danger once powerful storms arrive in the country," he said
recently in Pasay City.
Roxas led government efforts to step up its disaster preparedness
program with a flood drill in village 201 on the banks of Tripa de
Gallina, a narrow waterway in the Southern Metro Manila suburb.
Roxas said that more than 20 typhoons hit the country every year,
generating floods and landslides that bring death and destruction to
much of the country.
"The safety of some 60,000 informal settler-families livingon
geo-hazard areas in 11 cities in the metropolis is the overriding
concern of the government," Roxas said.