DA, LLDA eye revival of P90-B Parañaque Spillway Project

The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) are eyeing the revival of the P90-billion Parañaque Spillway Project in a bid to turn Laguna de Bay into a more productive fisheries hub and freshwater reservoir.

The DA said the spillway would help alleviate recurring flooding in coastal communities in Laguna, Rizal, and Metro Manila while revitalizing the ecological health of the country's largest lake.

"Laguna de Bay is one of Metro Manila's most important food baskets and our most affordable source of bangus," Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said in a statement.

If we restore the lake's health by improving water circulation and managing floods better, we can raise fish production, increase fisherfolk incomes, and improve raw water quality, which could eventually help lower water treatment costs for consumers," he added.

The 10.5-kilometer spillway, first proposed in the 1970s, would run at least 50 meters underground and connect Laguna de Bay to Manila Bay. The project, however, is expected to take at least a decade to complete.

The Muntinlupa City government had earlier opposed the proposed spillway over concerns that its construction would affect a portion of Barangay Buli.

For his part, LLDA General Manager Leopoldo Parumog said the spillway has become more vital because of the planned Japanese-funded Manggahan Control Gate Structure.

While the Manggahan project is expected to reduce flooding along the Marikina River, the LLDA said it could raise water levels in Laguna de Bay.

Tiu Laurel said the DA and LLDA would collaborate with the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, local government units, and private sector partners to build support for the spillway and address concerns of affected communities.

"The challenge is to show that this is not simply another flood-control project," he said.

"Done right, it is an investment in food security, climate resilience, and long-term water sustainability that will benefit millions of Filipinos," Tiu Laurel added.— MCG, GMA News