DAYS AFTER President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. bragged about the supposed improvements in flood-prone areas in Quezon City, a brief but heavy downpour submerged parts of the urban locality under knee to chest-deep flood water.
The Quezon City government on Sunday reported gutter-deep flooding at the corner of V. Luna Avenue and Matimpiin Street in Barangay Sikatuna Village; Malumanay and Maalalahanin Streets in Barangay Teachers Village West; Elliptical Road corner East Avenue; Gate 3 of Quezon City Hall in Barangay Central; and Road 6 corner Road 1 in Barangay Project 6.
Knee-deep flood submerged Bignay, Pajo Chico, and Pajo Langka in Barangay Quirino 2C and Hura Homes II in Barangay Vastra.
The area of V. Luna Avenue corner Anonas in Barangay Sikatuna Village, Pajo Durian in Barangay Quirino 2C, and Sitio San Isidro in Barangay Project 6 was under waist deep flooding.
Hardest hit are residents and businesses along Xavierville Avenue, corner Pajo Street in Barangay Loyola Heights, where floodwaters reached chest level.
Marcos, who inspected on June 26 an ongoing drainage improvement project along Araneta Avenue in Quezon City boasted of the administration’s efforts which he claimed would significantly reduce flooding in Quezon City.
“It seems to be effective, because I’ve talked to some residents here. They said that in the past, floodwater would submerge the first two floors of their homes even with a little rain,” Marcos said.
“This is just one-half (of the drainage improvement project). We will do the same on the other side so that water can really drain out quickly, and there will be no more flooding here on G. Araneta Avenue, here in Tatalon,” he added.
He also claimed to have instructed the Department of Public Works and Highways to work closely with the Quezon City government to prevent the accumulation of garbage that could clog the newly built drainage system and cause flooding.
“We will ask Mayor Joy (Belmonte) for help in creating a system to ensure consistent declogging (of the waterways). The residents are already doing it, they are de-clogging. But only on a small scale. With so much garbage, we really need to have a system.”
