The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said Tuesday that the long-delayed Sunog Apog Pumping Station in Tondo, Manila will begin operations on January 16—nearly eight years after its completion—a development expected to help ease flooding in parts of Metro Manila.
DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon announced the target operational date after inspecting the facility alongside Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Romando Artes.
The inspection followed Dizon’s earlier visit to the site in September, when he ordered officials to explain why the pumping station, completed in 2018, had never been made operational, citing permit issues, lack of coordination with the local government, and the substantial public funds already released for the project.
Dizon said the prolonged non-operation of the facility had contributed to worsening flood conditions in Metro Manila, particularly in low-lying areas such as Tondo.
Designed to function as a large-scale drainage system, the Sunog Apog Pumping Station is meant to divert runoff water from flood-prone communities into nearby rivers and waterways through a network of pipes, channels, and trash rakes that prevent debris from clogging the pumps.
Dizon expressed dismay that the facility had remained idle for years, noting that DPWH engineers are now coordinating with Prime Infra to rehabilitate the station.
He said at least one of the four pumps has been restored and is now operational, while the remaining three appear to be damaged and may require replacement.
Despite the setbacks, Dizon said the DPWH remains committed to meeting the deadlines set by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., including a directive to have at least three of the four pumps operational before the next rainy season.
The department is targeting full operational capacity for the pumping station by June 2026.
