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Incessant rains cause flash floods in Metro

11/16/2007

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said incessant rains that poured yesterday morning had caused flash floods in some major roads of Metro Manila.

The MMDA Metrobase traffic monitoring office reported gutter-deep floods were experienced in Tramo, Pasay City; E. Rodriguez Boulevard, Aurora Boulevard and other parts of Quezon City; Sto. Rosario in Makati City; and Boni Avenue in Mandaluyong City.

None of these flooded streets caused major traffic buildup though as these roads were passable to all kinds of vehicle, the MMDA said.

Motorists, however, were peeved by heavy traffic in many primary and secondary streets and intersections which they claimed was aggravated by the absence of traffic enforcers from their posts.

They noticed that most of the traffic enforcers suddenly disappeared from their posts during the rains while some of them who remained in their posts stopped directing traffic because

they didn’t have their raincoats with them.

Some local government units of the metropolis announced the cancellation of classes in public elementary and high schools due to floods.

Manila City Administrator Jesus Marzan announced that Mayor Alfredo Lim suspended classes in the elementary and high school levels in the morning.

Marzan said trucks would be deployed yesterday noon to fetch stranded passengers around the city, particularly in Quiapo and Lawton areas.

The University of Sto. Tomas on España Boulevard, Manila declared the suspension of classes in all levels at 1 p.m yesterday, except in College of Civil Law, Medicine and Graduate School whose suspension was left to the discretion of deans because streets around the university were flooded.

The Mandaluyong City government also suspended classes in elementary and high school levels because of floods.

Classes in the primary and secondary levels were also suspended in Valenzuela and Taguig cities.

Weather bureau Pagasa said the heavy downpour experienced in Metro Manila, central and southern Luzon yesterday was generated by a cold front’s tail end. Ben Gines Jr.