THE Marikina City government said Thursday it is planning to build two pumping stations as a long-term solution to persistent flooding in Mountainview Subdivision and Midtown 3 in Barangay San Roque.
Mayor Marjorie Teodoro said a meeting was held with representatives of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to address the issue.
The city’s engineering office assessed that floodwaters accumulate because of the failure of drainage outlets to discharge water toward Marcos Highway.
Teodoro noted that the drainage system in Mountainview is nearly the same level as the road, while the higher elevation of Marcos Highway slows the outflow of water from Midtown 3.
The city will fund the construction of separate pumping stations in the two communities, while interim measures are being implemented.
Pending the construction of the pumping stations, Teodoro said the DPWH and MMDA will remove obstructions along waterways leading to Marcos Highway to improve floodwater drainage.
She added that the city has requested the installation of a booster pump to hasten the discharge of floodwater into the larger drainage system along Marcos Highway.
Teodoro said the installation of giant drainage pipes from Sumulong Highway to Balanti Creek has been labeled a top priority, noting that funding for the project has already been secured.
“We know this has been a problem for a long time. It cannot be solved overnight, but we will continue working until we find a long-term solution,” the mayor said.
She added that Mountainview has been prone to flooding since the 1970s because it serves as a natural catch basin, with Marikina’s valley terrain receiving runoff water from surrounding mountainous areas.
