DOTr: Road, drainage works to begin this week to prevent NLEX flooding repeat

National government agencies and local units, along with NLEX Corp., are set to start working this week to address drainage and improve waterways in the Valenzuela and Bulacan areas in a bid prevent a repeat of the recent floods that hit the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), the DOTr said Sunday.

According to Transportation Secretary Vivencio “Vince” Dizon, officials of the Departments of Transportation (DOTr), and the Public Works and Highways (DPWH), along with representatives of NLEX Corp., Valenzuela City and Meycauayan, Bulacan met on Saturday, August 2, to discuss the action plan.

Dizon said the group has already designated the work among the agencies, with 10 waterways set to be cleaned. Some will also have to be widened and dredged, as these have been filled with debris and silt.

The biggest workload will be along the boundary of Valenzuela and Meycauayan, Bulacan, where all the agencies will be working together.

“Magsasama sama kami nun, magtutulungan kami para mapaluwag na ‘yung waterway dun para kahit papaano, kung magbabaha man o matindi talaga ‘yung ulan, eh hindi na katulad nung dati,” he said in an interview on GMA Super Radyo DZBB.

(We will work together and help each other to clear the waterways so that somehow, even if it floods or the rain is really heavy, it won’t be like before.)

Dizon said he expects the waterway works to be continuous for two to three weeks, to prevent, if not lessen, flooding in the area.

Parts of NLEX were flooded due to the recent rains brought by Tropical Cyclone Crising (international name: Wipha) and the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat, specifically in areas along the Valenzuela Interchange and the Paso de Blas entry and exit.

For its part, NLEX Corp. said it is working closely with relevant government agencies and LGUs to provide long-term solutions. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/BM, GMA Integrated News