Singson wants catch basin to solve flooding in Metro Manila

Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—How do you solve a problem like Metro Manila flooding? Build a huge basin, Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson believes.

The Cabinet official on Thursday said he has advocated for the construction of a retarding basin that would store flood water before releasing it to a main water source when the downpour stops.

This is what the department wants to do under their flood masterplan that has been in implementation since 2012, Singson said.

“We put a large container that collects water so that it doesn’t go directly to waterways or canals,” Singson said at the sidelines of the “Flood Summit” held at the House of Representatives on Thursday.

He said the catch basin would then release the stored water to the waterways when the pouring stops.

“The principle is that you don’t release the water while there is rain. You store it first before releasing it. You make room for water,” Singson added in Filipino.

Singson said they are still in the works of finding the site for a retarding basin but he said it should be in the Montalban-San Mateo-Marikina area.

RELATED STORIES

MMDA: Pump stations can’t solve Manila flooding

Philippine floods a man-made disaster—experts

Classes suspended as rains trigger flooding in Cotabato areas