The San Juan City government said on Monday, Aug. 10, that flooding in the city was less severe despite several days of heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon, or habagat.

In a message, Mayor Francis Zamora said San Juan experienced no severe flooding from Aug. 5 to 9, with water rising only by a few inches in some low-lying barangays before quickly subsiding.

He added that no residents had to evacuate during the period.

However, Zamora said continuous heavy rains early Monday caused water levels to rise in some barangays, prompting some residents to evacuate.

He noted that the number of evacuees remained lower compared with previous habagat and typhoon events.

“Unti-unti na po natin nakikita ang nagiging magandang epekto ng paglilinis natin ng ating mga drainage systems at ang pag-iiwas natin ng pagtapon ng basura sa ating mga daluyan ng tubig ngunit kailangan pa natin dagdagan ang ating sama-samang pagsusumikap (We are gradually seeing the positive effects of cleaning our drainage systems and preventing garbage from being thrown into our waterways, but we still need to strengthen our collective efforts),” Zamora said.

The mayor also cited the ongoing dredging of the San Juan River, Maytunas Creek, and Ermitaño Creek by San Miguel Corporation under the national government’s Oplan Kontra Baha program.

He said a new pumping station is being constructed along F. Manalo Street in Barangay Batis, while another is planned in a low-lying area near the San Juan River.

Drainage improvement projects are also ongoing in several barangays with assistance from the national government.

The city government has also purchased mobile pumps that can be deployed to flooded areas when needed.

Zamora urged residents to help keep their surroundings and waterways clean, saying more work still needs to be done to further reduce flooding in the city.

“Patuloy po nating gagawin ang lahat ng ating makakaya upang maibsan ang pagbabaha sa San Juan. Alam ko po na madami pa tayong dapat isakatuparan upang ito ay ating makamit ngunit tiwala po ako na sa pagtutulungan ng lahat ng ating mga mamamayan at ng ating Pamahalaang Lungsod, unti-unti din natin itong makakamtan (We will continue doing everything we can to ease flooding in San Juan. I know there is still much to be done, but I am confident that through the cooperation of our residents and the city government, we can gradually achieve this),” he said.