The Department of Public Works and Highways has allotted P1.7 billion worth of flood control projects in Manila for the decades-old problem of flooding that affects the country’s capital city.
Former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada said close coordination by his office with the DPWH Under Secretary Rogelio Singson resulted in Manila getting a windfall of infrastructure projects worth P1,742,775,286.46. Of this amount, P1,086,057,000 went to “flood control and drainage system” projects.
“Since the start of my administration in 2013, I have seen to it that our public works really redound to the benefit of the people and directly address their needs. That is why the bulk of our infrastructure projects focus on flooding, damaged, outdated or worn-out roads, clogged waterways, lack of classrooms, and other pressing concerns,” Estrada said, lamenting that such problems were not attended to by the past administrations.
Manila City engineer Roberto Bernardo said that the DPWH will work closely with the Manila government in the execution of these projects to avoid any irregularities.
“I believe that our performance in the area of infrastructure is the reason why the DPWH has infused so much infrastructure projects in Manila under this term of Mayor Estrada,” Bernardo said.
He added that the honest and competent implementation of infrastructure projects was among the reasons why Manila was conferred the ‘Most Competitive City award’ in the 2015 National Competitiveness Council of the Philippines—Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index awards.
Manila was also adjudged No. 1 in infrastructure in the said annual NCC awards co-sponsored by the USAID. This year’s awards program—was headed by Trade and Industry Secretary Gregory Domingo and Co-Chairman Guillermo Luz.
“Before the administration of Mayor Estrada, Manila was a bottom dweller—Number 36—in this competitiveness awards,” Bernardo said.
“The problem of flooding and the solution to it are not confined within our city. Manila is at the lowest point in terms of the flow of flood waters, that is why flood waters in other cities of the Metropolis pour into Manila, so we are closely helping in the national government’s flood control project especially with its major component situated in our city, the Blumentritt Interceptor with huge culverts which will help us rid floods from our streets more quickly by directing these waters into the Manila Bay more efficiently and in less time,” Bernardo added.