President Aquino

rides a motorboat during an inspection of the Pasig River Malacañang to Napindan Hydraulics Flood Control Structure in Pasig City yesterday.

Malacañang assured the public yesterday that heavy flooding could now be avoided after the Department of Public Works and Highways increased the holding capacity of the Pasig River through the river channel improvement project.

“Compared to two years ago, yes, there will be less flooding. But it will still depend on the volume of rainfall,” said Presidential Communication Secretary Ricky Carandang, citing the 99 percent comple- tion of the Pasig- Marikina river channel improvement project.

He clarified that floods could further be prevented once the P13- billion master plan for flood management in Metro Manila and surrounding areas is finished in about two to three years.

“This should help minimize the impact of floods. To prevent another typhoon ‘Ondoy,’ we have to finish the master plan,” Carandang, who heads the Presidential Communications Strategic Planning and Development Office, said.

President Aquino conducted a surprise visit yesterday morning in Guadalupe (Makati City) and the entire Pasig River waterway, expressing concern about the possibility of another great flood.

Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson showed the improvements, in anticipation of the wet season, by way of increasing the holding capacity of Pasig River through dredging, river widening, rehabilitation of floodways, dikes, excavation and heightening of flood walls.

“Again, the idea here is to increase the holding capacity of the river so that it doesn’t overflow so easily the next time there’s a storm. This is part of a very comprehensive anti-flooding project,” Carandang said.

The Aquino government is also set to create what it termed as “retarding basins.”