Personnel from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) have begun clearing operations near a collapsed river wall in Barangay San Jose, Navotas City, to ensure the safety of affected residents.
Members of the MMDA Metro Parkways Clearing Group, led by director Francis Martinez, started removing homes built directly against the damaged river wall.
Martinez disclosed that MMDA chairperson Romando Artes instructed the immediate debris clearing after a recent incident caused widespread flooding and displaced dozens of families.
MMDA personnel prioritized dismantling houses posing immediate risks before fully removing the compromised structure. Authorities are considering replacing the collapsed wall with a stronger barrier, possibly a sheet pile, to protect residents from the nearby river and shipyard.
Martinez cited that sandbags were only a temporary solution and could be washed away by high tides.
Meantime, the local government of Navotas City declared the affected structure unsafe for occupancy. Families impacted by the collapse now face uncertainty regarding their residences, with many potentially needing to find temporary shelters elsewhere without a local solution.