‘Puro pagtitiis sa Patiis,’ say residents affected by knee-deep highway flooding

Rappler visits a highway and drainage mission in Barangay Malanday, San Mateo, Rizal, to seek out out why it stays unfinished

MANILA, Philippines — Each time it rains, Patiis Highway in Barangay Malanday, San Mateo, Rizal transforms right into a swamp, a reminder of an unfinished highway rehabilitation and drainage system mission left in limbo. 

Based on residents, flooding in San Mateo worsened within the early 2000s when new subdivisions had been developed, changing rice fields and timber within the space. 

Due to this, residents now don’t have any alternative however to take a tricycle even to locations inside strolling distance. Tricycle drivers are additionally compelled to take longer routes to keep away from the flooded Patiis highway, elevating fares for passengers. 

The rehabilitation of the highway and drainage system was supposed to scale back the flooding within the space. It started in August 2023 with a P172‑million finances underneath Amethyst Horizon Builders, an organization owned by controversial flood management contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya. 

Nonetheless, when Rappler visited Patiis Highway on Wednesday, October 22, the mission was nonetheless removed from completion, and as an alternative of serving to, it even contributed to the flooding.  

As a result of the realm is very flood-prone, residents say even mild rains can stall development for not less than two weeks, with work relying completely on guide labor.

Following latest backlash, development has additionally been briefly halted. Whereas awaiting a brand new contractor for the mission, the Division of Public Works and Highways has indefinitely frozen the mission’s funds and tools. 

The contract, which was set to run out in June 2024, has left residents unsure about when the highway development and drainage system would lastly be accomplished. 

The positioning go to adopted a citizen report within the FloodControlPH chat room of the Rappler app, which flagged how the flooding disrupted and slowed residents’ each day lives. Watch this video to know extra about this flood management mission in San Mateo. 

Is there a flood management mission in your space you wish to flag? If you happen to spot any flood management initiatives in your space, snap a photograph of them and ship it to the FloodControlPH chat room on the Rappler app.

This video was produced by Rappler intern Jordan Joaquin and Rappler volunteer Marty Apuhin. – Rappler.com

Jordan Joaquin is an intern from Polytechnic College of the Philippines. He’s a fourth-year pupil taking on a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism. 

Marty Apuhin is a volunteer from Ateneo De Manila College. He’s a junior taking on a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, whereas additionally serving as a photojournalist of ZUMA Press Wire and pupil publication Matanglawin Ateneo.