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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Parang Ondoy?': MMDA explains why widespread flooding hit Metro Manila on Monday

'Parang Ondoy?': MMDA explains why widespread flooding hit Metro Manila on Monday

Published Aug 17, 2026 06:02 pm
Flood at España, Manila on Monday afternoon, Aug. 17 (Courtesy of Michaela Sy)
Flood at España, Manila on Monday afternoon, Aug. 17 (Courtesy of Michaela Sy)

Widespread flooding almost similar to Ondoy in September 2009 submerged Metro Manila nearby areas, causing monstrous traffic jams and thousands of people stranded after classes and government work were suspended at noontime on Monday, Aug, 17.

And the reason, according to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) was the huge volume of rains unleashed by the southwest monsoon, or habagat, in just a span of five hours.

Citing data from the monitoring station of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) at the Science Garden Station in Quezon City, MMDA said the rain volume that pounded in Metro Manila from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday was 201.7mm.

Rainfall is measured in millimeters and 1 mm of rain, one liter of water every one square meter of an area.

In the case of the Monday rainfall, 201.7mm means almost 202 liters of water were poured in one square meter in just five hours—the reason why widespread flooding happened according to the MMDA.

Compared to the heavy rains on Sept. 26, 2009 due to tropical storm Ondoy, the rain volume was 455mm in 24 hours.

Flooded areas

A number of areas in Metro Manila were submerged in floodwater as deep as six feet.

As of 4 p.m. on Monday, these are the flooded areas in Metro Manila, according to the MMDA:

Taguig City: 

- Chino Roces Ave.: Gutter deep (8 inches)  Passable to all type of Vehicles. 

Manila City: 

 - Along Roxas Blvd. Service Road from Pedro Gil to Salas, Ermita :  Gutter deep (8 inches)  Passable to all type of Vehicles

 - Roxas Blvd. in front of US Embassy, Ermita, Manila (Northbound):  Half Gutter deep (4 inches)  Passable to all type of Vehicles

- Quirino Avenue corner Taft Avenue:  Gutter deep (8 inches)  Passable to all type of Vehicles

- España Blvd Corner Antipolo St. : 17 inches (Not Passable to Light Vehicles)

 - España Blvd Corner M. Dela Fuente St. : 24 inches (Not Passable to Any Types of Vehicles)

- Rizal Ave. cor. Pampanga St. : knee deep (19 inches) not passable to all kinds of vehicles.  

- WB Quezon Blvd outer lane towards Quiapo  Church :  Gutter deep (8 inches)  Passable to all type of Vehicles

 - Abad Santos Ave. cor. Yuseco St. : Knee Deep (Not Passable to Light Vehicle)

-  Rizal Ave. cor. Bambang St :  Half Knee Deep (Not Passable to Light Vehicle)

- CM Recto Ave. cor. Rizal Ave. : Gutter deep (8 inches)  Passable to all type of Vehicles.

- Paz Mendoza Guanzon corner Quirino Avenue : Half-gutter deep (4inches),Passable to all type of Vehicles 

Quezon City:  

- NS Amoranto from G Araneta Avenue up to Sto Domingo Avenue : knee deep (19 inches) not passable to all kinds of vehicles.  

 - Edsa North ave : Gutter deep (8 inches)  Passable to all type of Vehicles.

- EDSA Bansalangin NB : Gutter deep (8 inches)  Passable to all type of Vehicles.

- A. Bonifacio Cloverleaf nb/sb , tire deep (26 inches) Not Passable to all types of Vehicles

- COMMO-TECHNOHUB WB : Gutter deep (8 inches)  Passable to all type of Vehicles.

 - Araneta maria clara to florentino :  tire deep (26 inches) Not passable to all kinds of vehicles

 - Quezon Ave. Biak na Bato to D. Tuazon Not passable to light vehicles

- Araneta E. Rodriguez NB/SB: knee deep (19 inches) Not passable to  light vehicles  

 - Edsa White Plains NB Not passable to light vehicles

- White Plains Temple Drive : Gutter deep (8 inches)  Passable to all type of Vehicles.

 - Quezon Ave. Capitol Medical Center : knee deep (19 inches) Not passable to light vehicles

 - Edsa NB, Liberty Ave. : Half Gutter (4 inches) Passable to all type of Vehicles.

-East Ave, Edsa WB : Gutter deep (8 inches)  Passable to all type of vehicles 

Malabon City: 

- Gov. Pascual Ave : Half knee deep (18-19 inches) Not Passable to  light vehicles 

- M.H. Del Pilar St.  Gutter deep (8 inches)  Passable to all type of vehicles.

- M.H. Del Pilar St. (Tatawid) Barangay Santulan - Half Gutter deep (3-4 inches)  Passable to all type of vehicles

- Don Basilio Bautista : half gutter deep(3-4 inches), Passable to all types of vehicles

- F. Sevilla Blvd. (Bayan) : half knee deep, Not passable to  light vehicles 

- Brgy. San Agustin: half knee deep, Not passable to light vehicles 

- C. Arellano , Ibaba : Half Knee Deep, Not passable to light vehicles 

Caloocan City: 

Subsided as of 3:20 p.m.- C3-Road corner NLEX Connector : Knee deep (19 inches) Not passable to light vehicles 

Mandaluyong City:

- EDSA Ortigas Svc Road SB : Gutter deep (8 inches),  Passable to all type of Vehicles. 

Marikina City: 

Marcos Highway SM Marikina underloop :  Gutter deep (8 inches)  Passable to all type of Vehicles 

Makati City:

-Buendia Avenue (Washington St. to South Superhighway): Gutter deep (8 inches)  Passable to all type of Vehicles.

Response

In a statement, the MMDA said it sent quick response teams in various flooded areas to attend to the local residents affected by the flooding and the stranded commuters.

It said various areas in Metro Manila are being monitored for proper and quick response through the MMDA’s CCTV cameras.

For its part, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said it deployed personnel and equipment to assist in declogging activities to ensure that the floodwater will immediately subside.

Related Tags

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