‘Puro pagtitiis sa Patiis,’ say residents affected by knee-deep road flooding

MANILA, Philippines — Every time it rains, Patiis Road in Barangay Malanday, San Mateo, Rizal transforms into a swamp, a reminder of an unfinished road rehabilitation and drainage system project left in limbo. 

According to residents, flooding in San Mateo worsened in the early 2000s when new subdivisions were developed, replacing rice fields and trees in the area. 

Because of this, residents now have no choice but to take a tricycle even to places within walking distance. Tricycle drivers are also forced to take longer routes to avoid the flooded Patiis road, raising fares for passengers. 

The rehabilitation of the road and drainage system was supposed to reduce the flooding in the area. It began in August 2023 with a P172‑million budget under Amethyst Horizon Builders, a company owned by controversial flood control contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya. 

However, when Rappler visited Patiis Road on Wednesday, October 22, the project was still far from completion, and instead of helping, it even contributed to the flooding.  

Because the area is highly flood-prone, residents say even light rains can stall construction for at least two weeks, with work relying entirely on manual labor.

Following recent backlash, construction has also been temporarily halted. While awaiting a new contractor for the project, the Department of Public Works and Highways has indefinitely frozen the project’s funds and equipment. 

The contract, which was set to expire in June 2024, has left residents uncertain about when the road construction and drainage system would finally be completed. 

The site visit followed a citizen report in the FloodControlPH chat room of the Rappler app, which flagged how the flooding disrupted and slowed residents’ daily lives. Watch this video to know more about this flood control project in San Mateo. 

Is there a flood control project in your area you want to flag? If you spot any flood control projects in your area, snap a photo of them and send it to the FloodControlPH chat room on the Rappler app.

This video was produced by Rappler intern Jordan Joaquin and Rappler volunteer Marty Apuhin. – Rappler.com

Jordan Joaquin is an intern from Polytechnic University of the Philippines. He is a fourth-year student taking up a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism. 

Marty Apuhin is a volunteer from Ateneo De Manila University. He is a junior taking up a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, while also serving as a photojournalist of ZUMA Press Wire and student publication Matanglawin Ateneo.