The sea called, and it wants Manila back.
Manila has always been a flood-prone city. As author Nick Joaquin writes in Manila, My Manila, “Floods are still a problem in modern Manila because the land level has not risen much since the days when the Pasig delta was a jigsaw of tiny isles…The site of Manila was reclaimed from the sea – and the sea is still trying to get it back!” An Associated Press story adds three more reasons why Manila’s floods are worsening:
No exit for water. According to architect Paulo Alcazaren, waterways and canals built during the Spanish period have either been lost or paved over.
Stronger typhoons. A decade ago, a fourth category for storm warnings was added for typhoons with sustained winds of more than 185 kilometers per hour. When Typhoon Maring exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Wednesday, she was at 120kmh. However, Ondoy still keeps the record for strongest storm; in 2009, it dumped more than a month’s worth of rain within 12 hours.
Politics, corruption and trash. According to the report, several proposals to dredge Lake Laguna (Manila sits between Manila Bay and Lake Laguna) have failed to materialize, including a $430-million contract signed during former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s term but shelved by the current administration.
Photo: AFP / Noel Celis
