DPWH: 70% of NCR's internal drainage clogged with garbage, silt

Seventy percent of the internal drainage system in Metro Manila is blocked by garbage and silt, which caused flooding in some areas amid the onslaught of Super Typhoon Carina and the Southwest Monsoon, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan said Tuesday.

In a Palace briefing, Bonoan underscored the need to rehabilitate and upgrade the "antiquated" drainage system in Metro Manila, noting that there was running water "trapped" in the metropolis.

"There was a study done before na 'yung internal drainage system of Metro Manila, 'yung mga maliliit na pipes dito, is already about 30% efficient 'no. Seventy percent of the internal drainage system of Metro Manila is silted sa mga basura and other things,” he told reporters.

(There was a study done before that the internal drainage system of Metro Manila, or the small pipes here, is about 30% efficient. 70% of the internal drainage system here is silted with garbage and other things.)

"And, of course, (there are many) other factors like this is a social factor, like (the) informal settlers that are staying in the waterways… These are the most vulnerable people also that need to be addressed," he added.

Last week, the country was hit by Tropical Cyclone Carina and the enhanced Southwest Monsoon or Habagat. Floods, swollen rivers, landslides, and soil erosion, among others, were reported in different areas, resulting in loss of lives and damage to property.

In the aftermath of the weather systems, several senators criticized the implementation of flood control projects, which they said receive billions of pesos in allocations in the annual national budget.

According to Bonoan, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has directed the DPWH to consider not only the flow of floodwaters but also to initially impound these in watershed areas.

"This is a very important component that we need to address at this point in time and I think basically, this is a solution that will impede actually the flow of floodwaters down to the low-lying areas," he said.

Bonoan also said the DPWH has so far completed about 5,521 flood control projects, and 5,000 more are in the pipeline.

Drainage masterplan

Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) bared a comprehensive drainage masterplan to mitigate the flooding woes in Metro Manila.

MMDA Chairperson Romando Artes said the master plan will be designed after the drainage system of the Netherlands, and will be funded by the World Bank (WB).

"'Yung comprehensive drainage masterplan, 'yan ay tulad ng ginagawa sa Netherlands…. Ang kanilang ginawa mayroon silang 50-60 year drainage master plan. Meaning, pino-project na nila 'yun tubig-ulan based on weather patterns kung gaano karaming ulan ang dadating 30 years and 50 years from the time na ginagawa 'yun then in-aadjust nila 'yan after 30 years,” he said.

(The comprehensive drainage masterplan will be designed after the system of the Netherlands. They have there a 50- to 60-year drainage master plan. Meaning, they project the possible rainfall based on weather patterns in the next  30 years and 50 years.)

"Ang plano natin kasama ng DPWH at mga LGUs, aralin lahat ng mga drainage system dito sa  buong Metro Manila,” Artes added.

(That's our plan with the DPWH and the LGUs here in Metro Manila.)

Further, Artes refuted claims online that the MMDA has a flood management budget of P787.6 billion in the last two years.

"That's fake news. We don't have that much budget for flood control," he said. — VDV, GMA Integrated News