Some pumping operations temporarily halted as habagat floods Metro Manila — MMDA

Abi Sarabia M., Philippine Canadian Inquirer
September 01, 2026

Photo courtesy: Philippine News Agency

MANILA, Philippines — Some pumping operations in Metro Manila were temporarily halted at the height of the southwest monsoon, or habagat, after water levels in rivers and flooded roads became nearly equal, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said.

MMDA General Manager Nicolas Torre III said the agency’s 73 pumping stations across the National Capital Region generally remained operational despite heavy rains and widespread flooding.

The problem, he explained, arose in some areas where pumping stations could no longer immediately discharge floodwater because the receiving waterways had also risen significantly.

“Ang naging problema lang, may mga areas talaga na ang pumping station natin hindi na mapagana dahil level na yung tubig galing sa pinagbuhugutan at saka yung tatapunan,” Torre said.

He cited areas near the Marikina River and San Juan River, where river levels rose to nearly the same height as floodwaters on surrounding roads.

When this happens, pumping water from streets into an already swollen river becomes ineffective, forcing operators to wait for the receiving waterway to subside before pumping can resume.

The situation was particularly evident around the San Juan River, which overflowed during recent heavy rains and contributed to flooding in parts of Quezon City.

Government officials said mobile pumps from the MMDA and Department of Public Works and Highways were also deployed in affected areas to help drain floodwaters once conditions allowed.

The MMDA stressed that the incident did not mean its entire pumping system had failed.

MMDA Chairman Romando Artes separately said all 73 pumping stations directly under the agency were functioning, while some pumping facilities experiencing technical problems were either under other agencies, local governments or had yet to be formally turned over.

The latest flooding came as another surge of the southwest monsoon brought intense rainfall over Metro Manila and large parts of Luzon.

Authorities continue to conduct declogging, dredging and pumping operations while monitoring major waterways as the government works to improve flood-control capacity across the capital region.