SAN Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora said Friday the city intends to harness Project NOAH to scientifically map blocked waterways and drainage systems. ​“One of our problems is that former waterways have been built over by structures, so if we do not intervene, the flooding problem will just keep coming back every time there is heavy rain,” Zamora said during a press briefing after meeting with University of the Philippines Diliman officials. ​The mayor said the obstruction of natural water channels prevents rainwater from flowing properly during heavy downpours, causing floods. ​He said Project NOAH’s Lidar-equipped drones and terrain-mapping technology can help identify old water channels, underground drainage paths, and priority intervention areas instead of conducting random dredging operations. ​Zamora said San Juan has been clearing obstructions and relocating affected families within the city, including to staging areas under the Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Program, to allow drainage rehabilitation to proceed. ​He added that drainage upgrades are being implemented through local government efforts in coordination with the Department of Public Works and Highways. ​Zamora noted that only 2 kilometers of the 9.8-kilometer San Juan River lies within the city, but San Juan remains downstream and receives floodwaters and waste from upstream local government units. ​He said the San Juan River is connected to the Pasig River, where limited water flow in some sections contributes to backflow during heavy rains. ​Without science-based mapping and targeted intervention, he warned that flooding will continue to recur in the city’s interconnected creeks and communities. JAMES DANIEL DANIO