MANILA — Several barangays in the city of Malabon are experiencing floods again especially during high tides, said Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) due to the damaged flood gate in Bgy. Tanza Uno in Navotas City. 

The said navigation gate was damaged after a barge forcefully entered the channel from the sea going to the shipyard in Navotas on June 7, 2024.

MMDA and the local chief executives of Malabon City and Navotas City on Monday held a meeting with the DPWH and Ship Builders and Shipyard Association.

According to MMDA acting chairman Atty. Romando Artes, they are planning to use a crane to temporarily lift the damaged flood gate.

“Ang isang problema sa ngayon, hindi maitaas fully yung navigational gate - sa ngayon nasa 80 percent lamang ang naitataas so yung tubig po pag high tide pumapasok, yun po yung nagko-cause ng baha sa Malabon at Navotas ngayon. Napag-usapan namin na tutulungan muna through crane na itaas yung navigational gate,” Artes said in a press conference.

Flooded barangays in Malabon, according to Mayor Jeannie Sandoval, include Hulong Duhat, Dampalit, parts of Tañong and portions of Concepcion.

“Sana ay magkaroon ng dagliang solusyon at the same time mapagplanuhan na rin ang long term solution. Ang kailangan natin mapag-usapan ay papaanong mapopondohan yung long term solution,” Sandoval said.

According to Sandoval, some residents of Malabon are experiencing 2-meter-high floods.

Navotas Mayor John Rey Tiangco said the malfunctioning navigational gate is important to the residents of their city and of Malabon.

“Matagal na po nating pinagpa-planuhan…ito’y part ng CAMANAVA flood control project…previously kahit walang ulan, talagang posibleng umapaw yung tubig. Unfortunately, nangyari itong insidente so napaaga yung problema natin,” Tiangco said.

In Navotas, residents of Bgy. Tanza Tiangco said are also experiencing flooding, they are the communities near the dike and shipyard.

Tiangco said what the LGU is doing now as part of a short-term solution is sandbagging in lowlying areas.  

Jennifer Cuerdo, president of the Shipyard Association in Navotas and Malabon, promised to help solve this problem.