Rainy Day Contingency protocol

Flood Resistant Arteries (The “High Ground” Routes)

The secret to surviving a rainy commute is staying on Elevated Infrastructure.

• The Rail Priority (LRT-1, LRT-2, MRT-3): These are almost never affected by street-level flooding. In a heavy downpour, abandon your bus or jeep plans and head for the nearest train station.
• The EDSA Carousel: While the road can get heavy, the dedicated lane remains the most “stable” bus option during rain because it bypasses the lane-weaving chaos of private cars.
• Skyway & Elevated Paths: If you must use a car/taxi, routes using the Skyway Stage 3 or NAIA Expressway are your only guarantee of avoiding the “Taft/España/Rizal Ave” water-traps.

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Operational Protocols for Commuters

Protocol A: The “Booking Blues” (Ride-Hailing)

• The 10-Minute Window: If it starts raining, you have exactly 10 minutes to book a Grab before the “Surge” hits and the “No Drivers Found” message appears.
• The Motorcycle Pivot: If it’s only a light drizzle, JoyRide/Move It/Angkas are often the only way to move through gridlock, but bring your own high-quality raincoat.

Protocol B: The “Shelter-in-Place” Strategy

• The Golden Rule: If the rain is intense during rush hour (5:00 PM – 7:00 PM), do not leave the office.
• Strategy: It is better to wait in a mall or office until 9:00 PM than to spend those same 4 hours standing in a flood-soaked line at a terminal.

Protocol C: The “Wet-Dry” Split (Gear)

• Ziploc everything: Your phone and power bank should live in resealable plastic bags inside your backpack.
• The “Tsinelas” Swap: Many veteran commuters carry a pair of slippers/flip-flops for the flood and keep their leather shoes/sneakers in a plastic bag inside their pack.

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Known “Blacklist” Zones (Avoid During Rain)

• Manila: Spain Blvd, Taft Avenue (near PGH/UN), and Blumentritt.
• Quezon City: G. Araneta Avenue, parts of Commonwealth (Tandang Sora), and EDSA-Camp Aguinaldo.
• Makati/Pasay: Buendia-Washington and the EDSA-Pasong Tamo Tunnel.

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The “Rainy Day” Commuter Kit

• [ ] Compact Automatic Umbrella: Sturdy enough for “wind-tunnel” streets like Ayala Ave.
• [ ] Heavy-Duty Poncho: Better than an umbrella if you need to walk through crowds.
• [ ] Power Bank (High Capacity): Critical. You may be stuck in traffic for 4+ hours; your phone is your only lifeline for maps and news.
• [ ] Alcohol/Hand Sanitizer: Essential if you have to wade through floodwater (to prevent Leptospirosis—always wash your feet immediately!).