DPWH allots P8B for Metro flood control

Of the nearly P46 billion the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has set aside this year for its flood control program nationwide, over P8.48 billion will go to 360 projects in flood-prone areas in the National Capital Region, according to the department’s budget report.

The report, a copy of which was given to the Inquirer, disclosed that in Metro Manila, Quezon City will get the biggest funding of about P1.47 billion.

The money will finance 96 flood control projects in the city, including 28 in the third district, 15 in the first district and 12 in the sixth district.

Manila received the second biggest allocation with P1.21 billion intended for 62 projects.

Next was Marikina City with P696.2 million going to 21 projects; Muntinlupa City, P499.95 million for 34 projects; Makati City, P480 million for 14 projects; Caloocan City, P471.24 million for 15 projects; San Juan City, P427.25 million for 24 projects; Pasay City, P401.36 million for 11 projects; Valenzuela City, P363.86 million for 11

projects.

Pasig City, P340.74 million for 19 projects; Las Piñas, P318.05 million for 6 projects; Taguig City, P289.88 million for 7 projects; Malabon City, P246.66 million for 9 projects; Navotas City, P213.18 million for 10 projects; Parañaque City, P74.75 million for 3 projects, and Mandaluyong City, P5.5 million for one project.

The same report also said the DPWH-NCR office got a separate funding amounting to P971 million for 17 flood control projects, 16 of which are part of the Camanava Flood Control Project. Camanava is short for the cities of Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela.

These include the following: Raising of the Polder dike and slope protection in Barangay Dampalit, P150 million; dredging of the Malabon-Tullahan River, P124 million; upgrading of the Niugan bridge, P50 million; strengthening of the river wall in Barangay Concepcion, P60 million; strengthening of river wall from Tenejeros Bridge to Acacia, P75 million; strengthening of the Marala River walls, P50 million, and slope protection along Longos Creek, P40 million.

The 17th project is the desilting of the San Dionisio River in Parañaque City, which has a budget of P40 million.

In a related development, the DPWH will continue implementing this year the Pasig-Marikina River channel improvement project, which covers the cities of Manila, Mandaluyong and Pasig.

The Manila portion of the project, which has a total budget of P777.37 million, is funded by a loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency or Jica.

On the other hand, the Mandaluyong and Pasig part of the project have allocations of P305.95 million and P1.08 billion, respectively, according to the DPWH.

Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson had said that flash floods in Metro Manila and nearby areas would keep recurring until the DPWH completes clearing the waterways, upgrading the pumping stations and unclogging the roadside drains in the region.

“All these interventions are already going on but they cannot be finished overnight,” he said in a text message to the

Inquirer.

Meanwhile, the utility firm Maynilad Water Services expressed confidence it would finish its pipe realignment project at the intersection of Juan Luna and Hermosa Streets in Manila, which has been blamed for the delay in the completion of the DPWH’s P560-million flood interceptor project in the area.

As of Jan. 31, the utility firm’s pipe project was only 50 percent complete.