P5 billion for immediate flood-control projects approved by NEDA

The National Economic and Development Authority has approved a list of projects aimed at immediately rehabilitating and improving floodways and drainage systems in Metro Manila, Central Luzon (Region III) and CALABARZON (Region IV-A). The projects, worth a total of P5 billion, are part of the government’s P351-billion Flood Management Master Plan for Metro Manila and Surrounding Areas. The flood master plan is a multi-year, multi-agency project spearheaded by the Department of Public Works and Highways. It was one of the nine infrastructure projects approved on Tuesday by the NEDA Board, chaired by President Benigno Aquino III. The total of all nine projects is P407.4 billion. Below is the DPWH's shortlist of immediate, high-impact flood control projects and their estimated costs: 1. Valenzuela-Obando-Meycauayan (VOM) Project – P830 million 2. CAMANAVA Project, Phase I (Caloocan-Malabon-Navotas Area) – P800 million 3. Manila Bay Seawall and Floodgates – P765 million 4. Upper Marikina Improvement Project – P370 million 5. West of Manggahan Floodway Project – P262.40 million 6. East Side of Manggahan Floodway Project – P193.97 million 7. Cleaning/declogging of drainage main – P43.33 million 8. Mandaluyong and San Juan River – P62.50 million 9. Region III (San Fernando-Sto. Tomas-Minalin Tail) – P272.19 million 10. Region III (Pampanga Sub) – P64 million 11. Region III (Tarlac I) – P71 million 12. Region III (Zambales I) – P36 million 13. Region IV-A (unspecified) – P205 million 14. Proposed River Improvements at Inflow Rivers to Laguna Lake (various rivers) – P750 million 15. Various dredging equipment – P274.61 million Communications Secretary Ricky Carandang said that the list shows the current administration’s commitment to find solutions to flooding that frequently occurs in the Philippines, as the country lies along the Pacific typhoon belt. “Just to show you the urgency of how we view this project, we’ve already approved the initial P5 billion,” he said in a press briefing on Tuesday. The program is expected to be completed by the year 2035. Carandang said the projects’ funding will vary, and that some may be funded by loans, by the national budget, or public-private partnerships. — BM, GMA News