Go Back
  • For Business
  • |
  • Warnings
  • Data Suite
  • Newsletters
  • Advertising
  • Superior Accuracy™
At least 3 killed amid historic flash flooding in New Mexico town. Click for the latest Chevron right
‘We will not leave’: 173 still missing in Texas flood zone as death toll hits 111. Read more Chevron right

Columbus, OH

70°F
Location Chevron down
Location News Videos
Use Current Location
Recent

Columbus

Ohio

70°
No results found.
Try searching for a city, zip code or point of interest.
settings
Columbus, OH Weather
Today WinterCast Local {stormName} Tracker Hourly Daily Radar MinuteCast Monthly Air Quality Health & Activities

Around the Globe

Hurricane Tracker

Severe Weather

Radar & Maps

News

News & Features

Astronomy

Business

Climate

Health

Recreation

Sports

Travel

For Business

Warnings

Data Suite

Newsletters

Advertising

Superior Accuracy™

Video

Winter Center

AccuWeather Early Hurricane Center Top Stories Trending Today Astronomy Heat Climate Health Recreation In Memoriam Case Studies Blogs & Webinars

News / Climate

How taxi drivers in the Philippines routinely navigate flooded streets

High tides, monsoon season and tropical systems like typhoons routinely flood roadways in one municipality, which has caused taxi drivers there to make crucial modifications to their vehicles.

By Thomas Leffler, AccuWeather staff writer

Published Oct 24, 2022 3:44 PM EDT | Updated Oct 24, 2022 3:44 PM EDT

Copied

Taxi drivers in the Philippine town of Hagonoy have ingeniously elevated their motorbikes to enable them to traverse the frequent flooded streets.

In most instances, calling a taxi or a rideshare service to pick someone up usually goes without a hassle, thanks to clearly defined roads. But what happens when the roads become small rivers?

In one municipality in the Philippines, flooded road conditions are often a result of rising tides, leaving taxi services in a jam. Motorbike taxi drivers in the municipality of Hagonoy, located approximately 23 miles north of the Phillippine capital of Manila, fight through these conditions through unique ingenuity.

Using strips of metal and steel tubes, the motorbikes become elevated to take on the flooded streets, raising seats up to 3 feet higher than normal. Russel Lopez, a motorbike taxi driver for the past 10 years, is one of many who have been forced to make the adjustment.

Motorbike taxis in Hagonoy, Philippines, have made several adjustments in order to account for flooded streets.

“The floods do affect us,” Lopez said. “For us motorbike taxi drivers, our vehicles are not made to cross floodwaters, so what we did was we modified them in order to make a living despite having year-long floods.”

During monsoon seasons and typhoons, floodwaters in the Philippines can reach knee to waist deep, creating the need for modified motorbikes. Local residents are grateful for the efforts.

GET THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP

  •    Have the app? Unlock AccuWeather Alerts™ with Premium+

“They are very important to us, especially to those who have to work, and if the floodwaters do not subside until the afternoon, we need these types of transportation,” said Hagonoy resident Lilibeth Alvaro.

Routes for the taxis are set around the flooded sections of Hagonoy, with Lopez noting that taxi drivers charge 40 pesos ($0.68) per person for a ride. On average, drivers usually earn up to 500 pesos ($8.47) per day. 

Streets in Hagonoy, Philippines, face frequent flooding, leading to motorbike taxis in the area making adjustments to elevate the vehicles.

While these earnings are more than what those operating unmodified taxis can make, profits are canceled out by maintenance costs. The modified taxis undergo regular maintenance in order to limit saltwater corrosion.

Flooding has been a concern in Hagonoy for decades, according to village leader Avelino San Juan, who noted that flooding has gotten worse due to improper garbage disposal and economic development in the town, among other factors.

The Philippines are currently dealing with the fallout from a powerful tropical cyclone, which caused incredible rainfall amounts in excess of several feet. Nesat, the cyclone which occurred on Oct. 16, forced over 900 people in the country to evacuate as it damaged houses and submerged roads.

READ MORE HERE:

8-year-old 'lawnbuster' is changing the world one yard at a time
231 invasive pythons removed from the Everglades in 10-day competition
Human remains found on parched shore of Mississippi River

Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts™ are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer.

Report a Typo

Weather News

video

House swept away by raging floodwaters in New Mexico

Jul. 8, 2025
Weather News

‘We will not leave’: 173 missing in Texas floods, death toll hits 111

Jul. 9, 2025
Weather News

US Coast Guard rescue swimmer hailed as a hero after saving 165 kids f...

Jul. 8, 2025
Weather News

The faces of the Texas flooding tragedy

Jul. 7, 2025
Severe Weather

Severe weather to rumble in the central US through the holiday weekend

Jul. 6, 2025
Weather News

Record sargassum seaweed piles up on Caribbean islands, Gulf

Jul. 2, 2025
Weather News

Alabama teen in ICU after lightning strike hits boat, causing burns an...

Jul. 2, 2025
Show more Show less Chevron down

Topics

AccuWeather Early

Hurricane Center

Top Stories

Trending Today

Astronomy

Heat

Climate

Health

Recreation

In Memoriam

Case Studies

Blogs & Webinars

Top Stories

Weather News

Deadly flash flooding devastates wildfire-scarred New Mexico town

10 minutes ago

Weather News

Camp Mystic, site of deadly Texas flooding, is in 'Flash Flood Alley'

13 hours ago

Weather News

‘Oh my God, we’re floating’: What people faced in amid Texas floods

1 day ago

Weather Forecasts

Flash flood threat to continue in central Texas into midweek

1 hour ago

Severe Weather

Flooding downpours, severe thunderstorms to mitigate heat in East

15 hours ago

More Stories

Featured Stories

Travel

FAA investigating part of a Delta Air Lines wing fell onto a driveway

5 days ago

Health

Three hospitalized, 21 injured after bee attack in France

1 day ago

Weather News

France leads Europe in saying au revoir to beach and park smoking

5 days ago

Weather News

125,000-year-old ‘fat factory’ run by Neanderthals discovered

1 day ago

Weather News

An ambitious vision of a city built from lava

1 day ago

AccuWeather Climate How taxi drivers in the Philippines routinely navigate flooded streets
Company
Proven Superior Accuracy About AccuWeather Digital Advertising Careers Press Contact Us
Products & Services
For Business For Partners For Advertising AccuWeather APIs AccuWeather Connect RealFeel® and RealFeel Shade™ Personal Weather Stations
Apps & Downloads
iPhone App Android App See all Apps & Downloads
Subscription Services
AccuWeather Premium AccuWeather Professional
More
AccuWeather Ready Business Health Hurricane Leisure and Recreation Severe Weather Space and Astronomy Sports Travel Weather News Winter Center
Company
Proven Superior Accuracy About AccuWeather Digital Advertising Careers Press Contact Us
Products & Services
For Business For Partners For Advertising AccuWeather APIs AccuWeather Connect RealFeel® and RealFeel Shade™ Personal Weather Stations
Apps & Downloads
iPhone App Android App See all Apps & Downloads
Subscription Services
AccuWeather Premium AccuWeather Professional
More
AccuWeather Ready Business Health Hurricane Leisure and Recreation Severe Weather Space and Astronomy Sports Travel Weather News Winter Center
© 2025 AccuWeather, Inc. "AccuWeather" and sun design are registered trademarks of AccuWeather, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | About Your Privacy Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

...

...

...