The general manager of the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) warned on Wednesday that heavy flooding similar to the one brought by typhoon “Ondoy” late last month may be repeated in areas near the Laguna de Bay if storm “Sudal” hits Luzon, especially Metro Manila.

Edgardo Manda told reporters during the Fernandina News Forum at the Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan City, that if ever Sudal hits the metropolis and drops even half of the total volume of water which Ondoy brought to Metro Manila and in neighboring areas last September 26, low-lying communities in Pasig City, Taguig and in Rizal province which is near Laguna de Bay will be heavily flooded once again.

“If half of the rainfall dropped by Ondoy will also be dumped by Santi, kawawa na naman ang mga taong nakatira sa may Pasig, parts of Taguig and in Rizal,” Manda told reporters.

He explained that at present, the water level in Laguna de bay is currently pegged at 14.0 meters which is way too high compared to the normal level of 11.0 meters. That‘s why he said that if Sudal drops excessive water, heavy flooding will again hit the said areas.

“Ang normal surface water ay 11 meters pero ngayon ay 14.0 meters. Ang surface water from 91.134 hectares naging 115.120. Volume of water, meanwhile, 5.74 billion cubic meters with an excess of 3.1 billion cubic meters,” Manda said.

The government official said that one of the factors why water level at Laguna de Bay is very slow to recede is because of the fact that squatters colony in Lupang Arenda has blocked the flow of water in the Napindan Channel.

He added that it will take about 146 days before the water level at the Laguna de Bay will be normal again.

“175 million drums lang ng tubig (a day) ang lumalabas. It will take 146 days bago bumaba ang tubig sa normal level. 3.1 billion cubic meters ang dapat mailabas na tubig para bumalik sa normal level na 2.64 billion cubic meters,” Manda said.

“Isa sa mga reason kung bakit mabagal ang paglabas ng tubig is because of the squatters colony sa Lupang Arenda. Lupang Arenda, which has about 60,000 families living there, is between Napindan Channel and Manggahan Floodway. Kaya mabagal ang paglabas ng tubig sa Laguna de Bay,” Manda said.

Manda said that one way of solving the heavy flooding is by destroying the squatter’s colony there. He added that under the law, the local government units (LGUs) should be the ones in charge of relocating them.

However, Manda admitted that forcibly evicting the 200,000 people who are living in the area will not be an easy task considering that the 2010 national and local elections is just around the corner.

“Ideally, dapat alisin ang mga tao diyan. Ang issue namin dito eh pollution na dinudulot nila. About 60, 000 families ang nakatira dito at 200 hectares ng area ang sakop nila."

“Under the law dapat, dapat LGU’s ang magpaalis sa kanila. Cainta, Taytay and Pasig City ang sumasakop sa area. Pero dahil election season, problema iyang pagpaalis sa kanila,” he said.

Manda said that this coming Friday, they will visit the area to conduct initial clearing operations on houses which were already abandoned by the owners due to heavy flooding.

He added that another reason why they want the area to be vacated is that it is prone to liquefaction based on their geo-hazard mapping.

“The area is prone to liquefaction. Tumama lang ang 6 to 7 magnitude quake, lulubog mga bahay.” Manda said.