Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Don Artes (2nd from left) leads a press conference at the agency’s headquarters in Pasig City on Thursday, August 29, 2024, regarding the updates on the rehabilitation of Malabon-Navotas floodgate. (Photo by Dianne Sampang/INQUIRER.net)
MANILA, Philippines — The Malabon-Navotas River navigational gate is now operational after it was damaged when a barge forcefully went through the channel, said the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Don Artes on Thursday.
According to Artes, a series of repairs were completed on the floodgate in August to resume its operations. New plates and pins were fabricated and installed from August 5 to 15 and August 17 to 18, respectively.
“Noong August 24, naisara na po natin siya. ‘Yong navigational gates, nailagay po sa closed position, which means nahaharang na po niya ‘yung high tide na ‘wag pumasok sa Malabon, Navotas,” said Artes in a press conference.
(We were able to close it on August 24. The navigational gates were placed in a closed position, which means that it can now prevent floods caused by high tides.)
READ: MMDA aims to fully repair Malabon-Navotas River floodgate by August
However, the floodgate can’t still be fully operational due to the amount of garbage they need to collect.
“‘Yon lang po, hindi po namin siya maopen fully sa ngayon dahil marami pa pong basura sa ilalim at kailangan pang halukayin, which should take two to three days to maximum of five days bago maubos para mailagay sa open position yung navigational gate,” he added.
(It can’t be fully operational for now since there is still a lot of garbage underneath that we need to retrieve, which should take two to three days to a maximum of five days so we can put the navigational gate in an open position.)
The authorities aim to finish the repair before any potential weather disturbances arise.
Last June, the navigational gate was damaged after a barge forcefully went through the channel, causing major flooding in nearby cities as it failed to block seawater from entering communities during high tides.
READ: Damaged gate would’ve prevented Navotas floods – Rep. Tiangco
In a press conference last July, Navotas Representative Tobias Tiangco said that P299 million was allotted to fund the repairs.
He also said that flooding caused by southwest monsoon-induced rains last month could have been prevented by the floodgate, which was already damaged by that time.
Filing of charges
Meanwhile, Artes said that they are planning to file complaints against the barge responsible for damaging the floodgate.
“Inaassess na lang namin kung magkano yung total na gastos pero as we speak, nagpeprepare na po kami ng complaints sa MARINA to sanction yung vessel… After that, ‘pag natapos po namin ‘yong repairs at malaman namin exactly how much ‘yong nagastos ng pamahalaan for repair, magpapadala na po kami ng letters,” he noted.
(We are assessing the total cost but as we speak, we are preparing complaints to the Maritime Industry Authority to sanction the vessel… After that, after we finish the repairs and know how much the government spent on repairs, we will be sending the letters.)
“Pwede rin po tayong magsampa ng criminal cases dahil mayroon din pong reckless imprudence resulting to damage to property dahil kahit inaawat na sila, patuloy pa rin pinilit ‘yong pagdaan,” he added.
(We can also file criminal cases because there is reckless imprudence resulting in damage to property because even when the barge was being stopped from entering the channel, they still pushed through.)
When asked if the camp of the barge reached out to them, Artes said that a representative came to the meeting and explained that they were chasing a schedule which he said was “unacceptable.”
“Imagine niyo po kung gaano karaming tao ang kanilang naperwisyo,” he emphasized.
(Imagine how many people they’ve inconvenienced.)