NAVOTAS CITY — The southwest monsoon (Habagat), enhanced by Typhoon Inday, put newly completed sections of Navotas City's flood protection infrastructure to the test on Saturday as powerful waves pounded the city's coastline.

Residents of Barangays San Roque and Tangos experienced rough sea conditions as large waves crashed against the Manila Bay seawall. Despite the strong surf, city officials said the coastal barriers helped minimize the impact of storm surges on nearby communities and protected fishing boats docked along the shoreline.

The weather disturbance also tested the city's integrated flood control system. Officials said the Mega Dike absorbed the force of the waves and storm surges, while pumping stations strategically positioned along the coastal dike continued operating to drain floodwaters and reduce flooding despite the heavy rains brought by the enhanced Habagat.

The Coastal Dike has long been championed by Rep. Toby Tiangco as a flagship flood mitigation project for Navotas. Together with a network of pumping stations and other flood control infrastructure, the project has significantly reduced flooding caused by high tides and storm surges, providing greater protection for thousands of families and businesses in one of Metro Manila's lowest-lying coastal cities.

As stronger weather disturbances and rising sea levels continue to threaten coastal communities, Saturday's weather served as another real-world test of Navotas City's flood defense system and the value of sustained investments in climate-resilient infrastructure.

As of 11 a.m. Saturday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported that Typhoon Inday had exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility, although the enhanced Habagat continued to generate rough sea conditions across parts of Luzon.