(INQ FILE PHOTO)
MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Sunday said its flood control projects have been “substantially completed” this year after the Commission on Audit (COA) cited 59 projectsin 2021 as “delayed.”
“These flood mitigating projects are operational and serviceable this year,” Baltazar Melgar, MMDA officer in charge and the Flood Control and Sewerage Management Office head, said in a statement.
“Now that we are slowly returning to normal following measures and restrictions to curb COVID-19, we are reassessing and recalibrating our processes to ensure timely completion of our flood control projects,” he added.
Among the reasons why the flood control projects were unfinished in 2021 were the “delayed procurement process due to the COVID-19 pandemic; late or pending issuance of clearances from local government units and other concerned government offices; right-of-way issues; relocation of informal settler families; change in order due to additional items/realignment of activities based on current situation/conditions on site upon implementation; and restrictions on worker and equipment mobility brought by the pandemic.”
Melgar noted that the projects tagged as “delayed” are only minor ones such as pipe-laying and drainage and riverbank improvements.
Amid the rainy season, all 77 pumping stations of MMDA are working at full capacity, Melgar assured.
He added that flood-mitigation activities are conducted year-round.