DPWH confident 2 major flood projects to be finished before Aquino steps down

The two major flood control projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will be completed next year before President Aquino steps down from office.

During the House Committee on Appropriations' deliberations on the proposed 378.35 billion budget of the DPWH for 2016, DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson said the 609.12- million Mandaluyong Main Drainage Project and the 600-million Blumen- tritt Interceptor Catchment Area will be finished in April or May next year.

"We are now close to 80-percent complete. We expect the two projects to be completed in April or May next year," he told the panel.

The drainage project, which runs from January 2013 to June 2016 is 64percent complete, Singson said.

While, the Blumentritt Interceptor Catchment Area project, which runs from March 2013 to March 2016 is almost 85 percent-complete. "The projects are not easy projects to implement because they pass through major thoroughfares in Metro Manila,” Singson said.

He noted that the 5-billion highimpact flood control projects is expected to be completed in November this year.

Singson also reported to the panel that as part of addressing the drainage capacity constraints in core area of Metro Manila, they have relocated 12,000 informal settlers.

He noted that the flooding was mainly caused by the huge volume of water coming from Sierra Madre, drainage capacity constraints in core area of Metro Manila, and low lying communities around Manila Bay and Laguna Lake.

He said there was an urgent need to address the concerns of flood-prone areas because " it covers 20 million people and a third of the country’s gross domestic product."

The DPWH allocated 351.718 to implement its Master Plan for Flood Management in Metro Manila and surrounding areas.

The master plan includes: Pasig-Marikina River Improvement and Dam Construction, 198.435 billion; Meycauayan River Improvement, 14.040 billion; Malabon-Tullahan River Improvement, 21.635 billion and South Parañaque-Las Pinas River Improvement,