RECENT heavy rainfall driven by the southwest monsoon (habagat) from August 5 to August 9 brought minimal flooding to San Juan City, showcasing early success from local infrastructure projects and proactive maintenance efforts.
City Mayor Francis Zamora announced that despite prolonged downpours, the city avoided severe inundation across its jurisdiction.
While minor water accumulation was observed in low-lying barangays, water levels reached only a few inches and receded rapidly.
Consequently, local authorities recorded zero evacuations during the five-day monsoon period.
Although heavy rainfall persisted into the early hours of Monday, causing water levels to rise in select barangays and leading to a small number of precautionary evacuations, local officials noted that the total impact remained significantly lower than during previous storms and monsoons.
Mayor Zamora attributed the improved condition to ongoing municipal maintenance, national government assistance, and key public-private partnerships:
- Drainage Maintenance: Regular clearing of municipal drainage systems and public compliance with waste management guidelines have kept primary waterways unclogged.
- River Dredging: Strategic dredging operations led by San Miguel Corporation (SMC) under the national government’s Oplan Kontra Baha initiative continue along the San Juan River, Maytunas Creek, and Ermitaño Creek. Zamora expressed gratitude to SMC Chairman Ramon Ang for the ongoing support.
- New Pumping Stations: Construction is actively underway for a major pumping station along F. Manalo Street in Barangay Batis, with plans for an additional station near the San Juan River in another low-lying area.
- Mobile Flood Equipment: The city government has procured mobile water pumps to provide rapid response capabilities across vulnerable flood zones upon their upcoming delivery.
While highlighting these improvements, city leaders emphasized that long-term flood prevention requires continuous public cooperation regarding environmental cleanliness and proper garbage disposal.
The local administration reaffirmed its commitment to completing planned drainage upgrades and working alongside national agencies to enhance disaster resilience across all barangays.
Last Saturday, August 8, the San Juan City government has begun distributing Emergency Go bags to 45,000 households to bolster disaster preparedness, calamities, and emergencies.
Mayor Francis Zamora announced that the rollout will occur in four phases—three this year and one in 2027—following last year’s distribution to public school students. Phase 1 ticket distribution began over the weekend, with actual kit handouts scheduled for the coming week.
Each Go bag includes vital survival gear, including a safety helmet, first aid kit, rechargeable flashlight, power bank, raincoat, thermal blanket, KN95 masks, and essential medical supplies to keep families safe during emergencies.