MANILA — Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco is eyeing legal action against a company over damage to the Tangos-Tanza Navigational Gate in June as the city faced flooding caused by heavy rains this week.

In a statement, Tiangco said he is closely coordinating with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to ensure that the company involved in the damage, which was caused by a barge entering during low tide,  will be held responsible.

"Napalaking perwisyo ang idinulot ng pagkasira ng floodgate dahil ito ang humaharang sa pagpasok ng tubig kapag high tide. Hindi sana nahihirapan ang mga Navoteño ngayon kung hindi nasira ang floodgate, " Tiangco said.

(The damage to the floodgate has caused so much inconvenience because the gate is supposed to block water during high tide. Navoteños would not be suffering if the floodgate had not been damaged.)

He said that the 81 pumping stations in the city would have managed the floods as Navotas had during Typhoon Ondoy in 2009, when there were even fewer pumping stations.

“We’re studying the legal options available to make those responsible for the damage of the navigational gate accountable. Ang iniisip natin dito ay 'yong mga pamilyang Navoteño na binaha dahil sa pagkasira ng floodgate," he said.

(We are thinking of suing them on behalf of the Navoteño families whose homes have been flooded because of the damage to the floodgate)

He added: "Hindi biro ang dinaranas nila ngayon kaya kailangan din makipag-usap muli sa MMDA para malaman anong kaso ang maaaring isampa."

(What they are enduring now is no joke and so we will coordinate with the MMDA to find out what case we can file)

READ: Floodgate sa Navotas napinsala dahil sa barge

“'Yong pagpilit na hilahin ang barko ng tugboats pagkatapos mabangga ang floodgate, kahit pinipigilan na sila ng mga personnel ng floodgate, hindi aksidente 'yon,” he said.

(That they insisted on towing the barge after it hit the floodgate, even if personnel at the floodgate were telling them not to — that is no accident)

Tiangco also said flooding in the city has already been managed with the building of Bombastik Pumping Stations, which siphon water during heavy rains and high tide.

The local government is also assisting in evacuating residents from critical areas.

Residents in need of emergency assistance can also contact the city government’s emergency hotline at 8281-1111 and TXT JRT numbers – 0917-521-8578 for Globe, 0908-886-8578 for Smart and 0922-888-8578 for Sun subscribers.

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