Saturday, October 11, 2008 Thousands stranded as city flooded anew
THOUSANDS of passengers, students, and office workers alike were stranded Friday when heavy downpours causing flooding in Davao City's main thoroughfares shortly before the evening rush hour began.
Knee-deep waters to the dreaded waist-deep floodwaters inundated a number of streets, causing the early evening traffic to snarl.
The streets of J.P. Laurel Ave, Quirino Ave, R. Magsaysay Ave, inner city streets in Uyanguren, Quimpo Boulevard, portions of MacArthur Highway, R. Castillo St., and Ponciano St. were flooded.
Heavy downpour brought about by a shallow low pressure area started to fall at 4:30 p.m. and continued for an hour accompanied by moderate gusts of wind and thunder. However, a drizzle continued throughout the night. The floodwaters receded around 10 p.m.
Based on the weather report of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pag-asa), a shallow low pressure area was affecting Southern Mindanao Friday, causing the heavy downpours. The shallow low pressure area has moved north and is now in the eastern part of the Visayas.
Flooding has been a perennial problem for Dabawenyos due to the lack or absence of an efficient drainage system in Davao City.
Early this year, the city experienced a number of floods brought about by heavy downpours.
In an interview with Mayor Rodrigo Duterte at the Marco Polo Hotel last Wednesday, he hinted at his growing dilemma over the city's drainage system saying that some people just refuse to cooperate.
"So I have to expropriate the land, kasi ayaw nilang umatras. I am forced to put the drainage on the roads," Duterte said. The mayor did not elaborate. (CPM)
