Nonstop heavy rains on Thursday put critical creeks and waterways under tight monitoring by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.

Personnel at the MMDA’s Metrobase, which monitors traffic and flood all over Metro Manila, said Thursday’s floods are manageable after submerging for a short time many parts of Metro Manila.

However, they are closely monitoring creeks and waterways before they overflow or fall down, citing that Maricaban Creek in Taguig City, Villanueva Creek in Paranaque City, and Pascor Creek in Pasay are among they placed under watch.

Despite incessant downpours, major thoroughfares and roads remained passable to vehicles. Floodwaters were only gutter-deep; the floodwaters also quickly receded due to the agency’s continuous flood control efforts.

Last week, a portion of the retaining wall of Estero De Maypajo in Tondo, Manila collapsed at the height of a heavy rain, prompting the agency to call on local government leaders to remove the informal settlers living along creeks and waterways.

Flood Control Management Service head Engr. Baltazar Melgar said the massive flooding within the estero’s immediate vicinities is a continuing reminder of the need to free up the waterways of obstructions that constrict the flow of water.

He said the widening of Estero De Maypajo and other vital creeks is needed to increase the waterways’ capacity to carry huge volumes of rainwater, especially during incessant downpour.

Continuous rains caused the overflowing of Estero De Maypajo, with the waters cascading down towards the direction of Abucay pumping station on Abucay Street.

But the floodwaters were choked in a narrow point between Bagac and Limay streets. Unable to carry the weight of increasing volume of water, the walls on both sides of the creek gave in.

The floodwaters tore a five-meter diameter hole on the wall and toppled the steel railings on the other side.

With nothing to contain it, the avalanche of onrushing floodwaters, along with the accumulated debris and garbage, flowed down the Blumentritt Interceptor along Hermosa Street, causing it to overflow, too.

Melgar said hundreds of shanties and residences were submerged in flood as the nearby Abucay pumping station tried in vain to pump out the waters from the overflowing Blumentritt Interceptor, which collects waters coming from Sampaloc district.