Sunog Apog pumping station starts test run next month

After years of delay, the Sunog Apog Pumping Station in Tondo, Manila, is set to begin operations on January 16, expected to help alleviate flooding in Metro Manila, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said on Tuesday.

DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon made the announcement after inspecting the facility alongside Manila Mayor Francisco Moreno and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Romando Artes.

Tuesday's inspection followed Dizon’s earlier visit in September, when he issued a show-cause order on the station for never having been operational since its construction in 2018, for lacking permits and coordination with the local government, and for the “large” amount of funding already disbursed.

Its non-operation has contributed to worsening flood levels in Metro Manila, Dizon said.

The Sunog Apog Pumping Station is designed to work like a giant vacuum, pumping runoff water from areas like Tondo to nearby rivers or waterways to prevent it from pooling in streets and residential areas.

The facility also includes pipes and channels to direct water away from communities, and trash rakes that filter out garbage that could block the pumps.

In an interview, Dizon expressed dismay that the station had been non-operational for at least eight years.

He said DPWH engineers have coordinated with Prime Infrastructures to carry out rehabilitation work, aiming to operate at least one of the four pumps by Tuesday. The three other non-functioning pumps may need replacement.

“Chineck natin ngayon, nakita na natin gumagana yung isang bomba. Ang problema, yung tatlong bomba di nagana [at] mukhang sira na… Kailangan na ng replacement,” he said.

(We are checking now and saw that one pump is working. The problem is three pumps are not working and seem to be broken… They need to be replaced.)

Despite the setback, DPWH is confident it can meet the deadlines set by President Marcos, Dizon said.

“Ang importante lang, nagbigay tayo ng deadline. Nagbigay ang Pangulo ng deadline, kasi yun ang request ni Yorme, na bago magsimula yung susunod na rainy season, at least 3 of the 4 pumps dito gumagana na,” he added.

(What is important is that we have given a deadline. The President has given a deadline, because that is Mayor Moreno’s request: that before the next rainy season, at least three of the four pumps are operational.)

Dizon said DPWH aims to have the entire pumping station fully operational by June 2026.

MMDA Chairman Artes said government technical experts would observe the station’s operations starting January 16 to gauge efficiency.

“Kung hindi po, meron po kaming Plan B na palitan na po lahat yung buong system. [Kung] isipin niyo na sayang naman yung pera ng buong gobyerno… Opo, may masasayang po probably… pero iyon po yung pinakakonbinyente at tamang gagawin kesa tirik ng tirik, babaha dito sa lugar na ito, hindi maseserve yung catchment area,” he said.

(If not, we have a Plan B to replace the entire system. You might think it’s a waste of government funds… Yes, there may be some losses, but this is the most practical and proper course of action instead of constant breakdowns, flooding in the area, and the catchment area not being served.)

Artes added that contingency measures would be implemented if the existing system proves ineffective.

“Iyon po ay mga contingency na mga gagawin natin based sa observation once na fully operational at least yung isang pump dito… Tulong-tulong po kami dito. Pinag-utos po ito ng Pangulo na once and for all hanapan ng long-lasting and permanent solusyon na mapagana po itong Sunog Apog,” he said.

(These are contingency measures we will implement based on observations once at least one pump is fully operational… We are working together on this. The President has ordered a long-lasting and permanent solution to make Sunog Apog fully operational once and for all.)

Artes also highlighted the need to address other issues, such as trash rakes and water flow through Maligaya Creek.

“Yung trash rake nakita niyo naman po [na] mukhang di na po siya gagana dahil nastuck na po siya ng mahabang panahon, na halos limang taon na pong di po nagana yung mga trash rake. Importante po kasi itong trash rake dahil ito po ay sumasala ng basura na humihigop ng bomba na kasama ng tubig,” he said.

(The trash rakes appear non-functional because they have been stuck for a long time—almost five years. Trash rakes are important because they filter out garbage that the pump draws in with the water.)

The MMDA is also studying ways to divert floodwaters from Maligaya Creek to prevent it from adding more trash to the pumping station.

"Marami pang basura ang nanggagaling doon at pag-aaralan po namin kasama ang DPWH yung Maligaya Creek na yun na yung tubig para di na po mapunta dito kasama yung basura,” he added.

(This contributes to flooding and brings in trash. We are studying the creek with DPWH to redirect water and prevent garbage from entering the pumping system.)

Manila Mayor Moreno expressed optimism about the project, calling it a hopeful development for residents who have long suffered from flooding.

“With all the time spent studying it, today magkakasama tayo at least masaya akong ibabalita sa mga kapitbahay namin sa Sunog Apog na alam na yung problema. Meron nang maayos at pangpermanenteng solusyon. And today, yung proof of concept doon sa solusyon na ibibigay nakikita namin gumagana,” Moreno shared.

(After all the time spent studying the project, I am happy to report to our neighbors in Sunog Apog that the problem has been identified. We now have an appropriate and permanent solution, and today we saw proof of concept that the solution works.)

“So far, merong hopeful case na nararamdaman namin na mga taga-Maynila, particularly dito sa Tondo sa Sunog Apog, bago man lang matapos ang 2025,” he added.

(So far, this is a hopeful development for residents of Manila, particularly in Sunog Apog, before the end of 2025.)

Other pumping stations to follow

Dizon said that after the progress at Sunog Apog, the DPWH plans to implement similar measures at other non-operational pumping stations.

As of Friday, temporary stop gaps were installed along Paco Pumping Station, which was damaged by Typhoon Uwan in November.

Dizon said the contractor committed to repairing the damaged floodgate at no cost to the government.

“Kailangan parin yung permanent solution doon. Nagcommit naman yung contractor, walang gastos sa gobyerno, iinstall yung flood gate at papatibayin nila. Magtetake pa yun ng 3 months para i-fully install yun. At least ngayon, may stop gag na tayo, nakaharang na, hindi na babahain ang community. Mababawasan na ang back flow,” he said.

(A permanent solution is still needed. The contractor has committed, at no cost to the government, to install and reinforce the floodgate. It will take three months to fully install, but for now, the stop gag will prevent community flooding and reduce backflow.)

He also said DPWH is targeting to operate three pumping stations along Roxas Boulevard.

“Lahat ng nakatengga, di gumagana, matagal nang di gumagana tulad nito, kailangan once and for all paganahin na natin lalong lalo na mag tag-ulan ulit,” he said.

(All idle and non-operational stations like these must be activated once and for all, especially with the rainy season approaching.)

“Yung pananagutan, darating tayo diyan. Di pwedeng walang managot dito… Aabot din tayo diyan, nagopen na tayo ng imbestigasyon dito, pero ngayon ang focus natin solusyon kasi kung di tayo gagawa nito, baha nanaman sa Sunog Apog next rainy season,” he added.

(Accountability will follow. We cannot let this go without holding someone responsible. An investigation has been opened, but for now the focus is on solutions, because if we do nothing, Sunog Apog will flood again in the next rainy season.)—MCG, GMA Integrated News