Should we really blame the urban poor for the floods that we frequently experience in Metro Manila?

important questions:

What are the real causes of this flooding phenomena in Metro Manila?
What is the right perspective in looking at the issue of urban poverty and the problem of flooding in Metro Manila?

ONDOY, 2009

Waterways are clogged by illegal settlers.

easons for BLAMING:

Dumping of garbage by informal settlers staying along the waterways.

Should we really blame the urban poor for the floods that we frequently experience in Metro Manila?

Ans.

2.

What are the REAL CAUSES of this flooding phenomena in Metro Manila?

A. Frequent Typhoons
China Japan

20-25 typhoons/year

Taiwan

Philippines

B. Typhoons & Climate Change

(data from the National Statistical Coordination Board)

From 27 typhoons during the period 2000-2003, the number ominously increased to 39 from 2004-2007. The typhoons are getting stronger and stronger, especially since the late 1990s. Typhoon signal no. 4 is of course, a fairly recent category . Between 1947-2006, 3 of the 5 strongest tropical cyclones in the Philippines occurred in the past decade. Total damages brought about by typhoons increased by 408% from 2003 to 2006. Seven of the 20 deadliest typhoons in the Philippines covering the period 1947-2006 occurred in 1990-2006.

C. Water Systems
Tenejeros River
Malabon River

Marikina River

Pasig River

D. Rapid Urbanization
Philippine population: 92 million (4th most populous in East Asia, after China, Indonesia and Japan) 63% live in cities and urban areas (compared to 36% in Thailand & 43% in Indonesia) Metro Manila: largest urban center 2007: 16 cities and 1 urban municipality 2007 population: 11.6 million (13% of national population) 2000-2007: population increase at the rate of 2.11% Most Crowded Urban Area in the Philippines

SHOPPING MALLS

CONDOMINIUM UNITS

SUBDIVISIONS

BUSINESS CENTERS

INDUSTRIAL PARKS

LARGE INFRASTRUCTURES

HEAVY INDUSTRIES

HIGHWAYS

COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS

Surface sealing & Deforestation

50%

42%

35%

15%

E. Land Subsidence

Lowering of land, over large areas, due to: -natural compaction of underlying soil & sediment -compaction sped up by rapid withdrawal of groundwater

At Manilas South Harbor, mean sea level rose at about 2mm per year from 19021960s then started rising ten times as fast.

Metro Manilas groundwater demand is still increasing. Consequent subsidence will continue and may even accelerate! (source: Siringan et. al., UP MSI)

F. Urban Poverty
Of the roughly 10M Filipino families living in cities today, an estimated 3.1M suffer from lack of security of tenure.

They occupy government-owned lands, idle, privately-owned properties, and danger areas such as riverbanks, bridges and railroad tracks.
Without de facto tenure security, families in illegal and poorly-planned communities are under constant threat of eviction. Data from the National Housing Authority in 2007 placed the number of informal settler households at over 544,000, or approximately 2.7M persons, in Metro Manila alone (1/4 of the entire population of Metro Manila).

G. Waste Disposal
Metro Manila produced about 8,400 to 8,600 tons of trash per day or 25 percent of the countrys daily solid waste generation. A single resident produces an average of 0.7 kilogram of waste a day, about 130 percent higher than the global average of 0.3 kg per person per day. About half of the garbage from Metro Manila is biodegradable waste such as food scraps, leftovers, and animal carcasses. About 17 percent are paper while 16 percent are plastics. Of the 16 cities and one municipality making up Metro Manila, only nine cities have a solid waste management plan.

(source: DENR, MMDA)

H. Inadequate Flood Control Structures

Existing internal drainage systems in Metro Manila cannot contain the unusual run-off. The old drainage system constructed in 1975 are already 70% silted. Design can not contain extreme discharge of rainwater. Existing waterways traversing subdivisions are filled-up and replaced with inadequate reinforced pipes and culverts. (source: DPWH)

I.

J. K. L.

Should we really blame the urban poor for the floods that we frequently experience in Metro Manila?

Ans.

NO.

What is the right perspective in looking at the issue of urban poverty and the problem of flooding in Metro Manila?

The existence of the urban poor is brought about by the social and economic imbalances in our society. They are a marginalized sector that must be subjects of genuine development rather than be treated as obstacles to development. They are also partners to development.

Every resident of Metro Manila is a contributor and is responsible to the frequent flooding that it experiences. The urban poor should not be singledout as the major culprit, but rather, they should be seen as the most vulnerable in terms of the effects of major hazards and calamities.

Rather than looking at them as eye-soars, urban poor communities must be provided with assistance in their quest for genuine land reform, right to land tenure, and their right to adequate and decent housing. Their rights must be protected against unreasonable and harsh demolitions.

end Thank you!