A Microcosm of Metro Manila

A MICROCOSM OF METRO MANILA

by Anton Antonio

July 7, 2015

The accompanying photo was taken by Ms. Daphne Oseña-Paez on board a Philippine Airlines flight last June 12, 2015.  Ms. Paez is my neighbour in a village in Parañaque City, the wife of Patrick (who is a well-known television news reporter and anchor) and the sister-in-law of Fr. Dennis (a popular Salesian priest) and Philip (a childhood friend).

This photo of a part of Pasig City could be considered a microcosm (meaning: a community, place, or situation regarded as encapsulating in miniature the characteristic qualities or features of something much larger) of Metropolitan Manila. This aerial photo shows what (perhaps) is 70% of Metro Manila if a house-to-house ratio is used.  It is likewise plain to see that homes in this part of Pasig City are made up of low cost houses and ragtag shanties.  More worrisome is the degenerated waterways that could no longer be identified in this photo.

Typhoon Egay and the monsoon rains again inundated many parts of Metro Manila in the last three days.  The flooding in our country’s premiere megalopolis could permanently be solved or at least minimized if the natural waterways in Metro Manila are cleared, dredged and widened to their original state.  These waterways interventions might even prove to be cheaper in cost than the very expensive flood control projects being constructed at present.  In fact, these flood control projects are even being reported to have contributed to yesterday’s floods.

In an earlier blog titled “Clogged Waterways”, I wrote:  “Nature has provided us with rivers, streams, esteros and other forms of waterways as a natural drainage system to prevent flooding.  But these waterways could only function if they are not impeded by infrastructure or used for other unworldly purpose such as a community garbage dump.  No amount of engineering intervention such as the Department of Public Works and Highway’s (DPWH) floor control project will ever work unless these waterways are restored back to their old form… therefore, (a) freed from silt, and (b) cleared and widened from all structures.  Anything less will only result to our perennial problem of flooding cause by clogged waterways.” (Antonio, 2015)

Although we, Metro Manilans, are now used to flooding as part of our way of life, it should be noted that floods have costs --- financial, social, health and environmental.  These are costs that we simply cannot additionally afford.  Another issue is the carbon footprint this unhealthy human habitat system makes.  How much more environmental degradation can Metro Manila afford?

Thanks to the good person who took this photo.  It’s really a microcosm of Metro Manila.

Just my little thoughts…

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REFERENCE:

Antonio, A. C. (2015). “Clogged Waterways”.  Retrieved on July 7, 2015 from http://antonantonio.blogspot.com/2015/06/clogged-waterways.html