MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered tighter security at pumping stations and the deployment of additional Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel to prevent cable theft that could disrupt flood-control operations and expose communities to flooding, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said on Saturday.
The order followed the theft of cables and other components at the Diokno Pumping Station in Pasay City more than a week ago, which affected the facility’s operations, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) chief said.
Although at least three suspects were arrested, Dizon said the contractor would replace the stolen components at no cost to the government.
During an inspection of the pumping station late this week, Dizon said the agency would not allow the public to suffer severe flooding because pumping facilities had become inoperable due to stolen cables.
“This is a grave injustice, especially to honest and hardworking government personnel,” Dizon said.
Marcos’ directive also calls for additional PCG personnel to be stationed at pumping stations and stricter security measures to prevent similar incidents.
The government is seeking to ensure that pumping stations remain operational, particularly during heavy rains, when the facilities are needed to help drain floodwaters from vulnerable areas, according to the top DPWH official.
The DPWH has been undertaking flood-control and drainage interventions to address flooding in urban communities. The theft of critical equipment, however, threatens to undermine these efforts and disrupt public services, Dizon said.
The government’s directive aims to prevent a repeat of the Diokno pumping station incident and ensure that equipment theft does not compromise flood-control operations, he added.
