MMDA: World Bank-funded Metro Manila flood management project catching up after delay

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Wednesday said the World Bank-funded Metro Manila flood management project is now catching up after the delay caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

At a Palace briefing, MMDA chairperson Romando Artes said the project aims to reduce solid waste in the water waste in the National Capital Region.

“Inabot po kasi iyan ng pandemic. Nasabi ninyo nga po ang period na covered niyan ay 2018 to 2024. So, iyong bulk po ng delay niyan happened because of the pandemic,” Artes said.

(It took that long because of the pandemic. You said the period covered by that was 2018 to 2024. So, the bulk of that delay happened because of the pandemic.)

“Pero sa ngayon po ay naka-catchup na po tayo. In fact, satisfactory po ang rating na ibinigay sa atin ng World Bank,” he added.

(But now we are catching up. In fact, the rating given to us by the World Bank is satisfactory.)

According to Artes, the MMDA and World Bank had a meeting around weeks ago to discuss the project. 

“We can assure the public na inayos na po natin iyan, naka-catchup na po tayo at magagamit po nang tama iyong pondo for the purpose intended,” he added.

(We can assure the public that we are working it out, we are now catching up, and the funds will be used correctly for the purpose intended.)

The World Bank Group said the first phase of the project aims to reduce flood risks in flood-prone areas of Metro Manila. 

The project includes constructing and rehabilitating selected pumping stations and their supporting infrastructure; improving solid waste management practices; relocating informal settler families, among others.

Approved in 2017 and effective in 2018, the Metro Manila Flood Management Project is co-financed by the World Bank in an amount equivalent to US$207,603,205 and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in an amount equivalent to US$207,603,205 million. —RF, GMA Integrated News