MMDA begins clearing ops after Navotas river wall collapse

Personnel from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) have begun clearing operations near the collapsed river wall in Barangay San Jose, Navotas City to ensure the safety of affected residents.

The MMDA’s Metro Parkways Clearing Group, led by Director Francis Martinez, began dismantling homes built directly against the collapsed wall following widespread flooding over the weekend that displaced dozens of families.

Martinez said MMDA Chairman Atty. Romando Artes ordered the immediate removal of debris to mitigate hazards in the area. The team prioritized the demolition of houses posing immediate risk before proceeding to dismantle the damaged structure.

The collapsed barrier is set to be replaced with a sturdier wall to protect residents from flooding caused by the nearby river and shipyard. Martinez noted that a sheet pile wall was proposed as a long-term solution, replacing the temporary sandbag wall which could be washed away during high tide.

The Navotas City government, meanwhile, declared the structure unsafe for occupancy. Families displaced by the collapse now face uncertainty over where they will live next.

Without a clear local solution, many residents may be forced to seek temporary shelter elsewhere.

In a television interview, Navotas City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office head Vonne Villanueva said only residents whose homes are declared safe by city engineers will be allowed to return. The City Engineering Office will evaluate the area to determine structural safety.

Homes in zones deemed safe will allow residents to return from evacuation sites. As of Tuesday, only five of the 79 families initially sheltered at the evacuation area remain — those whose homes are being demolished.

The MMDA, in coordination with the Navotas LGU and a private contractor, will continue building a new protective wall in the coming days. Officials plan to complete the critical groundwork before 8 July while tides remain low.

Martinez emphasized that MMDA personnel are taking extra caution in demolishing homes, noting that some structures are dangerously leaning toward the damaged river wall.