Metro Manila and the rest of the Philippines experienced heavy rains in the last few days as Typhoon Egay induced monsoon rains.
The downpours resulted in floods and landslides in the north and caused damage to properties.
Heavy rains are a bane to farmers, their crops and the general public.
The floods they bring can destroy roads and bridges, and disrupt transportation.
For those residing in low-lying areas, rising waters can threaten their houses and endanger lives.
Residents in low-lying and flood-prone areas of Marikina the other day had another scare after local authorities issued a second alarm, as the the water level in Marikina River rose to 16 meters.
A grade 2 alarm meant the local government needed to evacuate affected residents.
The Marikina City government reported the river’s water level first hit the 15-meter mark on the same day, or the first alarm, at around 5:38 a.m. and advised residents of potential evacuation.
Once the water level reaches the third alarm or the 18-meter mark, authorities will implement a forced evacuation of residents affected by the flood.
Residents in other low-lying areas in the Philippine, especially those near river banks, likely experienced the same flood threat in Marikina.
It is the monsoon season in the country.
But for many Filipinos, the heavy downpours should be a blessing—not a curse.
Authorities can harness the heavy rainfall and make it a boon to farmers, instead of letting the water run its course and empty into the West Philippine Sea or the Pacific Ocean.
More mini-dams can store the excess water for use as irrigation during the dry season.
In the case of Marikina River and other tributaries, authorities should encourage the construction of a series of dams upstream to control the water flow. Marikina River serves as the route of headwaters coming from the Sierra Madre Mountains in Rodriguez, Rizal province, before merging with Pasig River.
Elevating roads or building well-designed drainage structures leading to the creeks, meanwhile, will not significantly solve the flooding of Marikina and nearby towns.
The dams can also serve other purposes. It will boost the water source of Manila Water Co. Inc. and Maynilad Water Services Inc.
More importantly, the dams will mitigate flooding in Metro Manila and ease the fears of residents living on low-lying areas.