MMDA’s Abalos mulls using Metro Manila subway’s tunnel boring machines to build flood spillways

Newly appointed Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Benhur Abalos is proposing a “wild idea” to solve the perennial flooding in Metro Manila once and for all.

During the House Committee on Metro Manila Development on Wednesday, Abalos bared his plans for the National Capital Region (NCR), including ideas to address flooding.

The MMDA chair floated the possibility of using the tunnel boring machines to be used for the Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP) to create flood spillways.

“If you are going to look at the flooding of Metro Manila, alam niyo lahat ng tubig galing Sierra Madre at ang front liner ay Marikina [River], siya ang sumasalo lahat,” Abalos said.

“A portion of [floodwaters] will go to Laguna de Bay pero napupuno lang siya, wala siyang labasan. So kung titignan mo, the quickest way is [to make] a spillway from Laguna de Bay to Manila Bay... kaso mahal daw, andami ng tao sa Parañaque eh.”

“Unless,” he added, “this is just a wild idea of mine: gamitin mo ang technology ng subway, maghukay ka sa Sucat, ilalalim ng lupa at 'yung tunnel na ‘yun ang gawin mong spillway. Unless you do that, posible... that will really cure the flooding in Metro Manila.”

Two weeks ago, the Department of Transportation unveiled the cutter head of the first tunnel boring machine to be deployed for the MMSP. 

A total of 25 tunnel boring machines will be used to build the country’s first subway railway system, which is designed to be flood-resilient due to the utilization of Japanese technology and expertise.

On the issue of traffic, Abalos said the MMDA will be establishing a ferry terminal from the boundary of Rizal and Marikina.

“This ferry will go to Manila. Imagine-in mo imbis na mag-jeep at bus ka, magfe-ferry ka na lang,” he said. — BM, GMA News