MMDA reevaluates NCR drainage master plan

Floodwaters across the National Capital Region (NCR) are receding significantly faster than in past years, demonstrating the effectiveness of ongoing mitigation efforts, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced Friday.

In a radio interview, MMDA general manager Undersecretary Nicolas Torre III highlighted Aurora Boulevard near Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City, where floodwaters that once took 18 to 24 hours to recede now clear in approximately five hours.

“During the recent rain that caused flooding there, the rain stopped at 2 p.m., and by 7 p.m., the road was passable again because the water was gone,” Torre said.

He explained that the MMDA measures flood control success using three key parameters — reducing the geographical extent of flooding, limiting flood depth to keep roads passable, and increasing the speed at which standing water drains. He noted that flood-prone areas in Camanava — covering Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela — have demonstrated noticeable improvements confirmed by local officials.