Habagat survivors tell stories of flooding and danger

GMA Network

2 days ago

This past week, strong winds and heavy rains swept over Luzon as Typhoon Emong made its landfall over several provinces, damaging many homes in Pangasinan and La Union.
In recent years, La Union seldom reached Signal No. 4. Now, because of Emong, the whole province is under a state of calamity.
Jessica Soho, who came from La Union, visited her hometown to check the effects of typhoon in the area.
La Union
In San Fernando City, 59 barangays were affected by the floods.
"Napakaraming punong mga natumba, may mga posteng na-damage, wala hong kuryente ngayon sa maraming mga lugar, wala ring supply ng tubig," Soho said. "It's going to take some time bago ho ma-restore siguro 'yung mga basic facilities."
["A lot of trees have fallen, several posts are damaged, and many areas are currently without electricity. There's also no water supply. It may take some time before basic services are fully restored."
"Sabi nga nu'ng kanta ni Madonna, 'this used to be my playground' kasi bahagi po ito ng aking kabataan dito sa siyudad ng San Fernando, sa La Union. Sa eskuwelahan pong iyan, d'yan ako nag-elementary at high school."
["As Madonna's song goes, 'This used to be my playground,' because this place is part of my childhood here. I went to elementary and high school right here in San Fernando City, La Union."]
Soho also visited St. William's Cathedral and town plaza.
"So, maraming mga espesyal na okasyon sa buhay ko, dito nangyari. It's just heartbreaking to see 'yung mga familiar trees na bahagi po ng nakalipas, nasira dahil dito sa Bagyong Emong," she said.
["Many special moments in my life happened here. It's heartbreaking to see the familiar trees, once part of my past, now destroyed by Typhoon Emong."]
Soho also shared that there is a Narra tree in front of the city hall that survived a tornado that hit during her elementary school days. While the tree was spared from Emong's wrath, "All the rest of the trees, mga hundreds of years old na mga Acacia all over the province, nagsipagtumbahan marami."
["Many of the remaining trees, including century-old Acacias across the province have fallen."]
Even famed sights near their plaza were damaged by the typhoon.
"Naku, pati 'yung Cafe Esperanza, doon bumibili ang mga auntie ko noong rice cake nila," she said. "Wala na, na-damage kasi nadaganan ng natumbang acacia. At mayroon parang poste rin ng kuryente, 'yun ang heartbreaking dito eh. Although mabuti na rin walang namatay."
["Even Cafe Esperanza, where my aunts used to buy their rice cakes, is gone—damaged after being hit by a fallen acacia tree. There was also what looked like a toppled electric pole. That's the heartbreaking part. Still, we're grateful no lives were lost."]
Trees are not allowed to get cut in the area, but the damage remains unexpected. In fact, a street in Barangay Santiago Norte is unpassable by cars because of all the trees and posts that fell.
Soho also met with a former classmate named Rowena, whose two homes both made of wood suffered great damage due to the tornado-like typhoon and winds. A creek also overflowed and further damaged the home.
"Medyo sanay rin kami dito sa La Union sa bagyo kasi malapit kami sa dagat. Pero sabi niya ngayon lang siya nakaranas ng ganito kalakas na bagyo," Soho said.
["We're somewhat used to typhoons here in La Union because we're near the sea, but she said this is the first time she's experienced one this strong."]
Rowena also said that her husband and children are safe. She added that despite their preparations, the challenge was that the typhoon happened in the early morning and was stronger than expected. They lost everything, like clothes and food, and are seeking government assistance.
Laguna
More than a week of nonstop rains from typhoons Emong, Crising, and Dante also caused floods in Southern Luzon, like Laguna, which is flooded.
Barangay Pansol in Calamba has been flooded since July 12.
Tricycle driver Michael told KMJS he has been unable to make an income.
"'Pag nagtaas ang baha, hindi kami makapaghanapbuhay. Kasi hindi po makakababa 'yung trike gawa ng baha," he said.
["When the flood rises, we can't earn a living, because the tricycle can't get through due to the high water."]
The residents blame their clogged drainage.
"Sa tingin ko talaga 'yan ang pinakamalaking maitutulong nu'n, maayos lahat ang drainage. Kasi halos lahat ng drainage dito barado na eh. Kaya 'yun pinapagawa na po, inuumpisahan na. Sa tingin ko 'pag 'yun ang nagawa, masosolusyunan din agad," Michael said.
["I really think the biggest help would be fixing all the drainage systems, because almost all of them are already clogged. Work has already started, and I believe once the drainage is fixed, the problem will be resolved right away."]
However, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) clarified that flooding isn't solely due to clogged drainage systems, it's also driven by environmental degradation. One major concern is the deforestation of a portion of Mt. Makiling, which has sparked public attention online.
While there's no quarrying or mining activity in the area, the Local Government of Calamba confirmed that a subdivision project, which had a permit, is being built in the vicinity. A resort is also under construction at the foot of the mountain, although its management has yet to release a statement.
In response to the growing concern that these developments may be contributing to the flooding, the Calamba LGU has issued a moratorium and suspended the subdivision's operations.
Metro Manila
An area that is never safe from floods during monsoon season is Metro Manila, which based on its topography, is a catch basin of floods from higher provinces. It is surrounded by Manila Bay, Laguna Lake, and the rivers in Marikina and Pasig.
According to the Executive Director of the University of the Philippines Resilience Institute, Dr. Mahar Lagmay, flooding in Manila happens due to streets built on natural waterways. Because the estuaries have been filled with garbage or now have buildings, as well as the reclamation projects, these result in floods.
In Barangay Batasan Hills, Quezon City, a little boy was accidentally swept away by the current and fell into a manhole that was being constructed. The victim was three-year-old Jhon Paulo, son of married couple Jaymar and Cecile.
Jaymar said that he went out of the house to fetch his other child who was playing in the rain. He did not know that Jhon Paulo followed him.
"Naglalakad po ako papunta dun sa anak ko, may sumigaw na 'Bata! Bata!' Paglingon ko, 'yung anak ko!" Jaymar said.
["I was walking towards my other child, someone shouted. When I looked back, it was my child!"]
John Paulo fell and was easily swept away by the flood. They were unable to do anything as he fell into the manhole, which was being constructed for a flood control project.
Jaymar said, "'Yun nga po 'yung naging problema diyan kasi wala pong harang na nilagay du'n sa harap na 'yun. Matagal na yata. Parang magtataon na rin yata 'yan."
["That's really the problem there—no barriers were installed in front. It's been like that a long time, maybe almost a year now."]
He quickly went into the manhole, but he couldn't surface.
His wife Cecille said she followed him down.
"Bumaba na po ako. Nagsisigawan na. Sabi kasi ng asawa ko, 'Wala na si Paulo. Patay na.' Sabi ko, 'Hala! Nawala na si Paulo. Hindi! Nandiyan 'yun!'"
["I had already gone down. Everyone was shouting. My husband said, 'Paulo's gone. He's dead.' I said, 'No! He's there!'"]
A worried Jaymar was aided by Bernie and Loren Jay, but they struggled because of the strong water flow. They eventually saw Paulo's feet and grabbed him by the clothes until they all escaped the manhole.
Jhon Paulo was unconscious for a while but then he woke up and called for his mother.
Both Jhon Paulo and Jaymar were immediately rushed to the hospital. Just last Friday, Jhon Paulo was rushed to the hospital anew because he had a high fever and was vomiting.
Cecille, meanwhile, expressed hurt from the comments towards her and Jaymar.
"Pinabayaan ko daw po 'yung bata. Wala daw po akong kuwentang magulang. Sumasakit din po 'yung loob ko," she cried.
["They said I neglected my child. They said I was a worthless parent. That really hurt me deeply."]
"Gumagawa rin ako ng paraan. Kahit umuulan na po, may tumatawag sa akin magpalaba, pinupuntahan ko po 'yun, bitbit ko po 'yung mga anak ko."
["I'm doing everything I can for my family, even when it's raining. When someone calls me to do laundry, I go, and I bring my children with me."]
The barangay said they already put precautions and blocked it off so it really won't happen again.
A massive P352 billion was allocated back in 2012 for the Metro Manila Flood Management Master Plan, a long-term project slated for completion by 2035. Implementation reportedly began in 2017 with World Bank support.
But over a decade later, progress remains slow. According to the Commission on Audit, as of 2023, 22 out of 58 sub-projects in Metro Manila were delayed. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) admitted that less than 30% of the entire master plan has been completed.
In his 2024 SONA, President Marcos claimed that over 5,000 flood control projects had been completed. However, UP School of Economics Assistant Professor JC Punongbayan said that this was later clarified by the DPWH Secretary—many of those projects are still ongoing.
"So kailangan natin na magkaroon ng mas matinding scrutiny o pagtingin sa saan ba talaga nagagamit ang pera para sa flood control projects," he said.
["We really need to scrutinize where the money for these flood control projects is actually going."] —JCB, GMA Integrated News