QC pours in nearly P900M for flood-projects in 2015

Commuters cross a flooded street for a fee after heavy monsoon rains spawned by tropical storm Fung-Wong (local name Mario) flooded Manila and most parts of the metropolis Friday, Sept 19, 2014 in the Philippines. AP

The Quezon City government has stepped up its flood mitigation measures, already investing P899.6 million for flood-control projects for the first half of the year.

Of this amount, P698.6 million went into improving drainage systems, which involved upgrading the city’s sewage pipes from 18 inches to 24 inches or wider; while P201 million went into the construction, strengthening and clearing of retaining walls along waterways.

Flood-prone District 2, which has the biggest land area and is the most populous in the city, got the lion’s share of the projects, getting P142 million for 20 drainage-system projects; and P141 million of the budget for waterway constructions.

The biggest flood-control construction was at Barangay Bagong Silangan, in which a 725-linear meter retaining wall was built along Kalamiong Creek. The wall, at its highest point, reaches 20 feet. Barangay Bagong Silangan is known to be flood-prone because of its plateau topography.

Meanwhile, at Barangay Sta. Monica, the grouted riprap along the Tullahan river has been heightened, costing P9.2 million.

Drainage pipes have also been widened in District 5, with 20 projects worth P165 million; and in District 1 with 19 projects worth P132 million.

The city government has also operationalized an automatic trash rake at Balingasa Creek, which has collected 526.15 cubic meters of waste as of June.