President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday highlighted the flood-mitigation measures being implemented by his administration, saying improvements in drainage, pumping stations, and dredging have helped reduce flooding in parts of Metro Manila despite the heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon.

In his statement after a situation briefing at the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Communications and Command Center in Pasig City, the President said several areas that previously experienced severe flooding were now seeing lower water levels and faster water recession.

“Kung dati mag-aantay ang tao ng 2-3 araw bago mawala yung baha, ngayon wala pang isang araw, wala na,” Marcos said, noting that some areas that used to be submerged to the second floor were now experiencing much shallower flooding or no flooding at all.

The recent flooding affected around 4,700 barangays and 1.7 million families, with 27 reported deaths and 17 injuries, according to the situation briefing.

The President said the improvements were particularly significant given the volume of rainfall recorded during the recent monsoon rains.

The Chief Executive said around 201 millimeters of rain fell within five hours, equivalent to about 44 percent of the rainfall recorded during Tropical Storm ''Ondoy'' over a 24-hour period in 2009.

Marcos attributed part of the improvement to continuing government efforts to clear waterways, expand drainage capacity and upgrade pumping facilities.

The administration has been replacing smaller, older drainage pipes, including some systems installed shortly after World War II, with larger pipes designed to allow water to drain more rapidly, according to the president.

The President also said all 73 pumping stations under monitoring were now functioning, while 11 mobile pumping units were also being deployed in areas requiring additional capacity.

Dredging operations and pumping activities will continue, the president said, although some pumping stations have temporarily stopped because there is no longer sufficient floodwater to pump out.

The President said the government is also pursuing longer-term measures to increase the country's capacity to store excess rainwater instead of allowing it to immediately flow into the sea.

Marcos said 30 potential sites have already been identified for the construction of underground water storage facilities or cisterns, including areas such as Raja Sulaiman, Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, Camp Aguinaldo and the University of Santo Tomas campus.

The proposed system would involve excavating beneath existing open spaces and facilities, including football fields and other campuses, and restoring the surface after construction.

Marcos said the government is currently coordinating with the institutions and authorities managing the identified areas, while detailed engineering studies are expected to be completed within the month.

“To make sure that we have solutions for the very short term, we have solutions for the medium term, and eventually we will have solutions for the longer term,” Marcos said.

Once the engineering plans are finished, the government will prioritize the sites and begin excavation, the President said.

The President said the proposed underground storage facilities could provide a way to temporarily hold large volumes of rainwater during intense downpours and reduce pressure on the city's drainage and flood-control systems.

The President also directed officials to study ways of putting the collected water to productive use rather than simply discharging it into the sea.

The stored water could potentially be used for household, industrial, or irrigation purposes, depending on the quality and treatment requirements, President Marcos said.

To illustrate the scale of the recent rainfall, the President said the approximately 201.7 millimeters of rain recorded was equivalent to nearly 50,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

The President said the government is likewise continuing to upgrade seawalls and implement other measures for the management of floodwaters.

The administration's approach, the President said, involves immediate interventions such as dredging, pumping and drainage improvements, while simultaneously developing medium- and long-term infrastructure solutions.

The President acknowledged that more work remains to be done, particularly as climate change increases the frequency and intensity of extreme rainfall events. Presidential News Desk