Surely, being natural occurrences, typhoons are God-ordained. On the other hand, they could also be man-made when man does not prepare for such weather disturbances to prevent or minimize the destruction they may cause.

Twelve years ago, I wrote an article titled “A Brasilia for Mindanao” (Inquirer, 6/27/97), stating in part the following:

“Minimizing significantly the occurrence of flood requires, first, the removal of all squatters along Pasig River, existing creeks and esteros, and dredging them. Then because many esteros have disappeared, huge canals and laterals will have to be built traversing the entire Metro Manila and passing through the reclaimed land in Manila Bay. And thirdly, all clogged street drains feeding the laterals should be replaced by open ditches for easy maintenance. A megadike with pumping stations may have to be built along the bay and Pasig River to protect Metro Manila from high tides, the usual excuse for floods.”

Sure, what I have suggested is a huge and costly undertaking that will take years to complete. But we have to start this now if we want the flood problem solved, even if only partially, to minimize damage caused by typhoons.

What must be done immediately is to dredge the whole Marikina River and Pasig River from Laguna Lake to Manila Bay, and use the dredged material to raise their banks along low-lying areas. It is not enough to clear them of garbage and squatters for they have silted so much that their discharge capacity has been greatly reduced. With these rivers so silted up, the natural tendency of water flowing through them in volumes beyond their capacity to handle fully is to overflow and flood the low-lying areas beside them. That is the simple logic of the cause of floods that is conveniently ignored.

—RODOLFO R. MONDONEDO,
mondorudy@gmail.com