MMDA, DPWH crafting 50-year drainage master plan 

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) are crafting a 50-year drainage master plan for the National Capital Region (NCR).

In a hearing of the House committee on public works and highways on Wednesday, MMDA general manager Procopio Lipana said the plan includes an upgrade and expansion of the drainage network.

“We need to completely rehabilitate all the internal drainage systems of Metro Manila, considering, as I mentioned, almost all of them were built during the 1970s,” Lipana said.

Aside from the long-term master plan, Lipana said the MMDA will also build new pumping stations that can handle higher volumes of water during heavy rainfall or storm surges.

An additional Malabon-Navotas floodgate will be constructed to provide better control over water levels in the flood-prone areas in the two cities, according to Lipana.

Lipana presented to the House panel the MMDA’s plan for flood mitigation following the recent massive flooding in Metro Manila due to the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat and Super Typhoon Carina.

The MMDA attributed the flooding to the outdated and insufficient drainage infrastructure in the region, among other factors.

Meanwhile, DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan said that the department is implementing some of the components of the World Bank-assisted master plan for the Pasig Marikina River Enhancement Flood Control Program for Metro Manila.

“I was informed that in terms of percentage of the total components of the master plan, unfortunately, almost only about 30% of the total program has been implemented," Bonoan said.

“But there are projects that are still ongoing at this point. A case in point is that, as you pointed out, I think one of the major programs that could have mitigated the flooding in Metro Manila is the construction of the Marikina Dam,” he added.

On July 24, Metro Manila was placed under a state of calamity due to the massive flooding caused by Habagat and Carina.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/914547/ncr-state-of-calamity-floods/story/