NCR getting 13 more pumping stations
The government will add 13 pumping stations to the 73 currently being managed by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to address the flood problem in the National Capital Region.
President Marcos said on Thursday that the additional pumping stations should be operational by the end of the year or early 2027.
Of the 13, four will be brand new while the rest will be upgrades to exiting facilities, according to MMDA Chair Don Artes.
Work has already started on the four new stations—Doña Imelda, Tatalon, Roxas I and Roxas II—which are all located in Quezon City.
Artes said that all 73 pumping stations were operational at the height of the recent torrential rains resulting from the enhanced southwest monsoon or “habagat” that left many parts of Metro Manila, including portions of Luzon and the Visayas, underwater.
“Because of climate change, because of the increase in volume of rainfall that has been coming to the Philippines and in the future, we are installing additional pumping stations,” Mr. Marcos said after his inspection of the Tripa de Gallina pumping station in Pasay City.
He added that the additional 13 pumping stations are meant to improve the government’s capacity to drain floodwaters in NCR.
DPWH project
Funding will be under the Metro Manila Flood Management Project with the Department of Public Works and Highways—Unified Project Management Office (DPWH-UPMO) serving as the implementing agency.
Approved in 2017, the project was supposed to end last year although it was extended up to this year.
According to the DPWH, the four new pumping stations are targeted for completion within the year. When finished, they will be turned over to the MMDA for supervision, operation and maintenance.
During his inspection of the Tripa de Gallina pumping station, the largest pumping station in NCR built in the 1970s, Mr. Marcos said all of its pumps were operating properly.
However, he pointed to garbage as a continuing problem that reduces the station’s efficiency to drain floodwaters in the low-lying areas of Pasay and Makati.
“We really need to address our problem with garbage disposal. Even if we have a good pumping station and powerful pumps, if garbage continues to enter the system, its efficiency will decline and it will not operate as effectively,” the President said.
According to him, the government is looking for ways to manage the waste in “a more environmentally friendly way,” including turning organic waste into compost to reduce the volume being dumped in landfills.
Another possible solution is pursuing a waste-to-energy program, Mr. Marcos said.
“Some people even joke that if you collected all the garbage coming out, you could build a house because there are kitchen sinks, mattresses, and all sorts of things being thrown into our waterways,” he noted.
The new pumping stations are on top of the MMDA’s plan to build 39 large rain-catchment structures throughout Metro Manila to ease flooding.
Mr. Marcos earlier said the government had identified the sites for the structures, some of which are expected to be operational before the start of next year’s rainy season.
Rain basin sites
The potential sites are the NHA 4PH Property (Bagong Silang) and University of Caloocan City in Caloocan; Camella 3D basketball court and Daang Hari Road in Las Piñas; Malabon People’s Park and Malabon Sports Complex (oval) in Malabon; Chino Roces Avenue underpass and Estero de Tripa de Gallina in Makati;
Baseco Lagoon, Freedom Triangle Plaza, Remedios Circle and Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in Manila;
Buhangin Creek and Maytunas Creek (upstream) in Mandaluyong; Hardin ng Bayan and Marikina River Floodplains (Bagong Sibol) in Marikina; Jamboree Lake (near New Bilibid Prison) and Open area beside Muntinlupa Sports Complex in Muntinlupa;
Navotas Coastal Dike and Tanza Marine Tree Park in Navotas; Open area in Barangay Moonwalk and Open space behind Avida Towers in Parañaque; Cultural Center of the Philippines and Pasay City Linear Ecopark in Pasay;
Bukuhan Agricultural Area and Bukuhan parking lot in Pateros; New Township/Development Area and Rizal High School Track and Field Oval in Pasig; Camp Aguinaldo, Damar Village Park, Miriam College Open Field, Tierra Verde II Park and UP Sunken Garden in Quezon City;
Ermitaño Creek and Maytunas Creek (downstream) in San Juan; Pinagsama Creek Daylighting, and Maya and Maysapang Creek pumping station in Taguig; Polo Riverwalk (right bank) and Wawang Pulo Pumping Station in Valenzuela.
