DPWH taps scientists to fix ‘infamous’ pumping station in QC

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Wednesday said it will be asking the help of scientists from Project Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards (Project Noah) to fix the controversial Matalahib Creek pumping station in Quezon City.

Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon described the unfinished flood control project, which spans from Barangay Talayan and Barangay Sto. Domingo, as “infamous” because it had only worsened the flooding in the area instead of managing it.

“One major problem here is it blocks the water coming from upstream,” he told reporters during an inspection. “From Balintawak, the water goes down here, [but] it gets blocked when it rains. After that, all of this gets flooded.”READ: Quezon City project worsens flooding – Mayor Belmonte.

READ: Quezon City project worsens flooding – Mayor Belmonte

According to the city’s disaster risk and management office, the area usually experiences waist-deep flooding, with the waters immediately rising even if the amount of rainfall has only reached around 2 millimeters.

Dizon noted that the pumping station fails to serve its function because it was incorrectly designed based on the master plan. 

The project has also remained unfinished since its contract, which was awarded to the Discaya-owned St. Timothy Construction Corp. and Pilastro Builders and Development Inc., was canceled last year following the investigation on anomalous flood control works.

Only the first phase has been constructed so far, which cost around P96 million.

To decide on a solution, Dizon said the DPWH will be taking recommendations from scientists at Project Noah, who will be simulating the possible impacts of tearing down the structure, opening the flood barriers, and putting up mobile pumps.READ: DPWH cuts budget by P255B, drops locally funded flood control projects.

“We will give various options and let the scientists give us the best option,” Dizon said. “When there is a decision, we will begin implementation with the goal of finishing all of this before the rainy season starts.”

The pumping station was previously inspected by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure and has been criticized by Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte for being one of the problematic projects in the city “because it was built right on top of the creek.”

“The evidence is very clear that when this was built, the flooding here really got worse, that’s why this is really one of the things that I brought up to [Secretary Dizon],” she said during the inspection. /mr