MANILA, Philippines — Several roads across Metro Manila were submerged Monday morning, August 17, as persistent rains from the Southwest Monsoon, or Habagat, caused flooding in multiple cities and disrupted road traffic.
The situation became more serious as PAGASA raised Metro Manila to an Orange Heavy Rainfall Warning at 11 a.m., covering several areas including Caloocan, Malabon, Valenzuela, Marikina, Navotas and Quezon City. PAGASA warned that flooding is threatening in areas under the warning.
The latest road reports from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and local governments showed that some locations were already impassable to certain vehicles.
ROADS IMPASSABLE TO ALL VEHICLES
According to the 9:30 a.m. report cited by Philstar.com, the following areas recorded the most severe flooding:
Makati
- San Antonio — Malugay, Lumbayao and Don Chino Roces: 24 inches, tire-deep
- Malugay Street corner Mayapis Street: 24 inches, tire-deep
Quezon City
- Quezon Avenue corner Biak-na-Bato westbound/westbound: 24 inches, tire-deep
- NS Amoranto from G. Araneta Avenue to Sto. Domingo Avenue: 19 inches, knee-deep
Philstar.com reported that these locations were impassable to all types of vehicles at the time of its 9:30 a.m. update.
LIGHT VEHICLES ALSO HIT
Flooding was also reported in several portions of Makati, including Talisay Street, Malugay Street, Don Chino Roces Avenue, Dela Rosa Street, Mayor Street, Davila Street, Godet Street, Cervera Street and Mola Street.
In Taguig, the East Service Road southbound beside PNR Nichols reached 19 inches, described as knee-deep, while Hoover Street corner Araullo Shaw Boulevard in San Juan was reported at more than 8 inches.
MORE FLOODED ROADS REPORTED
Other roads remained passable but with caution, including:
- Andrews Avenue corner Aurora Boulevard in Pasay
- Roxas Boulevard
- Chino Roces Avenue in Taguig
- Boni Avenue corner F. Ortigas Street in Mandaluyong
- Several portions of Padre Faura, Taft Avenue, Quirino Avenue, Mabini Street, Kalaw Avenue and United Nations Avenue in Manila
- Elliptical Road-Kalayaan and V. Luna corner Matimpiin Street in Quezon City
- Marcos Highway SM Marikina underloop in Marikina City
GMA News’ later 10:45 a.m. update similarly recorded flooding in Pasay, Taguig, Mandaluyong, Makati, Manila, Quezon City, San Juan and Marikina, confirming that the flooding was affecting multiple parts of the capital region.
GMA also reported that NS Amoranto in Quezon City had reached 19 inches and was not passable to all kinds of vehicles, while Hoover Street in San Juan was not passable to motorcycles.
PAGASA WARNING: FLOODING IS THREATENING
The flooding comes as the Southwest Monsoon continues to dump rain over Luzon.
PAGASA’s 11 a.m. Heavy Rainfall Warning No. 6 placed Metro Manila under an Orange Warning Level, alongside parts of Zambales, Bataan, Bulacan, Rizal and Pampanga. The agency specifically identified flooding as a threatening hazard.
The development means residents and motorists should not assume that currently passable roads will remain safe throughout the day. Flood depth can change rapidly as rainfall continues, particularly in low-lying and drainage-prone areas.
The latest reports also show why motorists should check conditions before traveling: roads that were still passable with caution earlier in the morning were being reported alongside locations where water had already reached knee- or tire-deep levels.
WHAT MOTORISTS SHOULD WATCH
With the Orange Warning in effect for portions of Metro Manila, motorists should expect rapidly changing road conditions, slower traffic and possible additional flooding.
Those traveling through affected areas should monitor official MMDA and local government advisories and avoid attempting to cross roads where floodwater is already deep or rising.
The bigger concern now is not simply which roads are flooded—but whether continued Habagat rains will push more Metro Manila routes into the impassable category.
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