THE QUEZON City government has stepped up its flood mitigation measures for the first half of the year, spending P899.6 million for flood-control projects.
Of the total amount, P698.6 million went into improving drainage systems which involved upgrading the city’s sewage pipes while P201 million went into the construction, strengthening and clearing of retaining walls along waterways.
The flood-prone District 2, which has the biggest land area among the city’s six districts aside from being the most populous, got the lion’s share of the allocation, receiving P142 million for 20 drainage system projects and P141 million of the budget for waterway constructions.
The biggest flood control construction was in Barangay Bagong Silangan, another flood-prone area, where a 725-linear meter retaining wall was built beside Kalamiong Creek. The wall, at its highest point, reaches 6 meters (20 feet).
The grouted riprap in Barangay Sta. Monica along the Tullahan River has been raised at a cost of 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 started operating an automatic trash rake at Balingasa Creek which, as of last month, has collected 526.15 cubic meters of garbage.