CHAIRMAN Emerson Carlos of the Metro Manila Development Authority said 20 new pumping stations will be built next year while 37 existing ones will be rehabilitated to address flooding in the National Capital Region.
The P22-billion project was approved by the National Economic and Development Authority to address the perennial flooding in Metro Manila and neighboring areas.
Carlos said the government is now discussing with the World Bank the modernization of drainage, rehabilitation of existing stations with modern, efficient and high capacity pumps and construction of new pumping stations in flood-prone areas in the metropolis.
“We will build more pumping stations. The only reason why we don’t have flooding [these days]because of pumping stations. It keeps us afloat,” Carlos said of the planned Metro Manila Flood Management Project.
Local government units where pumping stations will be constructed are Quezon City with 13 new pumps, one in Mandaluyong, three in Muntinlupa, one in Taguig, and two in Valenzuela.
Pumping stations set for rehabilitation include 18 in Manila; 12 in Malabon, two in Quezon City, one in Makati and Pasay, and four in Taguig City.
The project is divided into four components: Modernization of Drainage Areas (P15.5 billion); Minimizing Solid Waste in Waterways (P3.3 billion); Participatory Housing Resettlement and Project Management, Support, and Coordination (P1.998 billion).
To date, MMDA has 54 water pumping stations and these pumping stations were designed to pump between 80 millimeters and 90 mm of water per hour.
“As for the preparations, we have the Estero Blitz, upgrading of pumping stations and the Effective Flood Control Operating System,” Carlos said but noted that the effects of La Niña could worsen flooding.
Carlos said these facilities, significant in monitoring and alleviating flooding in the metropolis, will be put to the test.
The rehabilitated pumping stations are Libertad, Quiapo, Tripa de Galina, Pandacan, Valencia, Binondo, Aviles, Paco, Makati, Sta. Clara, Balete, Arroceros stations and two rehabilitated floodwater pumping stations along Circumferential Road 6 in Barangay Wawa and Hagonoy in Taguig City.
Carlos said this will be the first year for the MMDA to use the newly-installed pump engines in preparation of the rainy season since it was upgraded.
MMDA officials said uncontrolled dumping of waste was one of the aggravating factors during the massive flooding brought by Typhoon "Ondoy" in 2009.
But they assured that all 54 pumping stations of MMDA are fully functional as per each engine had the capability to pump 350 drums of floodwater per second.