Five days after the onslaught of typhoon Ondoy, floodwaters have not receded in many parts of Metro Manila, particularly those hard-hit areas in the eastern part of the metropolis, drawing public complaints and criticisms against the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

Based on its monitoring, even if waters have receded in major thoroughfares in the metropolis, many areas are still underwater, including several areas in Pasig City, Taguig City, Muntinlupa City; and Cainta in Rizal.

Engr. Baltazar Melgar, MMDA Flood Control Management Service (FCMS), said areas are still flooded because of several factors brought by Ondoy, noting the elevation of water, saying that floodwaters in submerged areas level with the Pasig River which connects with Laguna de Bay.

He also explained that one major river that drains Laguna de Bay is the Taguig River that enters into Taguig before the Pateros River and creating the common border between the municipality of Pateros and Makati City.

Pateros River then enters the same confluence where the Napindan River and Marikina River meet, said Melgar, noting that it may take several days before floodwaters recede in the areas.

Morever, several pumping stations were knocked down by typhoon Ondoy and remain unserviceable as they are still underwater.

Major flood-control pumping stations, stationed in Paco and Pandacan in Manila; and West Manggahan pumping station in Pasig City, are still under repair, said Melgar.

The pumping stations in strategic areas are used to alleviate the flooding problem in flood-prone areas in the metropolis.

MMDA chairman Bayani Fernando admitted that pumping stations were not enough to bear the onslaught of Ondoy. "Hindi na kinaya ng mga pumping stations kasi lumubog na rin sa tubig baha, nawalan din ng kuryente kaya hindi na na-pump yung tubig," said Fernando.

A pumping station has the capacity to pump out rain water to prevent the area from being submerged. He said the pumping station is only designed to pump only 80 millimeter water per hour. However, typhoon Ondoy brought 240 millimeter water per hour.

Even the coastal areas in Sta. Rosa, Laguna are not spared from stagnant floodwaters as 70 percent of houses are still under water.

The number of families affected by the typhoon in Sta. Rosa also rose to 14,951, or 77,052 residents, in 13 of 18 barangays, according to the latest report by the City Social Welfare and Development Office.

Mayor Arlene Arcillas-Nazareno said that based on latest data, the highest number of affected families are in Barangay Caingin with 4,840 families or 24,200 persons. Caingin, Aplaya and Sinalhan are along the coastal areas of Laguna Lake. Also affected were the low-lying barangays of Tagapo, Pook, Balibago, Macabling, Dila, and Dita.

She said around many houses along the coastal areas are still under water due to the continuous rains and the surge of water coming from the mountainous areas of Tagaytay and Silang in Cavite.

The city government is appealing to national government agencies for help for the affected families.

The mayor convened the City Disaster Coordinating Council to map out plans in the rescue and relief operations for the affected areas in the city.

The report also stated that 1,662 families are now in evacuation centers. Three persons died and 66 houses were partially damaged. One death was reported in Barangay Dita, while two died in Barangay Pulong Santa Cruz. (With a report by Jonathan Hicap)