MANILA — Damaged navigational gates or floodgates of the Metropolitan Manila  Development Authority (MMDA) in Barangay Tanza Uno in Navotas City are threatening to cause floods in some villages in the cities of Malabon and Navotas.

According to Malabon City Mayor Jeannie Sandoval, the navigational gates were damaged last June 7, 2024 when a barge carrier passed through even during low tide.

Engineer Flocy Ismael, the officer-in-charge of MMDA’s Navotas pumping station, told ABS-CBN News that the captain and crew of the barge defied the warnings of the guards and personnel at the pumping station not to pass through the navigational gate until the tide reached its peak.

“Nung time na yun, hindi pa masyadong kasagsagan ng peak ng high tide - ayun dumaan sila, pinilit nila na maipasok yung carrier nila, pagkatapos nung sinasabihan sila nung guwardiya at yung operator na standby muna at antayin muna yung peak ng high tide…ayun binalewala nila yun. Sumayad talaga yun sir,” Ismael said.

MMDA Acting Chairman Romando Artes showed to the media, a cellphone video taken during the time when the carrier insisted on passing through the said channel.

“Low tide po kasi, supposedly bawal pong pumasok d’yan. Pero meron makulit na barge na kahit anong awat nung tao namin, na huwag pumasok ay ipinilit pong ipasok yung barge nila. Kumadkad po ito dun sa navigational gate na nag-cause ng pagkasira niya,” Artes explained.

The navigational gate, according to Ismael, malfunctioned on June 12.

“Nagka-problema na yung gate nung June 12 - hindi na namin maisara gate na. High ampere na motor,” Ismael added.

With the damaged navigational gate, the MMDA has warned of floodings in the low-lying villages of Malabon and Navotas, especially if heavy downpours coincide with high tide.

Villages that might be affected by floodings include Barangays Dampalit, Hulong Duhat, and C. Arellano Road.

Artes said the channel serves as a passage for all boats, barges and other carriers in the Malabon and Navotas area. 

Therefore, a functional navigational gate is crucial to prevent massive floodings associated with high tides in the surrounding villages .

“Daanan po ito ng bangka itong channel na ito, meron pong gate yan na itinataas-ibinababa para po mag mataas ang tubig itataas siya para huwag pumasok yung tubig galing sa Manila Bay papunta po sa Natovas. Unfortunately, medyo luma na po ito eh at nire-repair lang although hinahanapan po natin ng long term solution po ito,” he said.

In a press conference on Tuesday, Malabon City Mayor Jeannie Sandoval appealed to her constituents to follow safety protocols and coordinate with the LGU.

“Nakikiusap po ako dun sa mga gumagamit ng daluyan ng tubig kung nasaan ang nav gate (navigation gate) ay sundin natin ang mga patakaran para hindi naman po maka-perwisyo sa ibang kababayan namin at siyempre apektado rin naman ang Navotas nun,” Sandoval appealed.

Artes said they have informed Navotas City Mayor John Rey Tiangco about what happened.

He said Tiangco could probably summon the owner and the captain of the barge to explain their side and discuss potential penalties or sanctions.