THE ongoing Pasig-Marikina River Channel Improvement Project (PMRCIP) has helped prevent the river from overflowing, protecting residents of Marikina and Pasig from severe flooding amid weeks of heavy rainfall, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said on Tuesday that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the agency to hasten the construction of flood-mitigation structures along the Marikina River, in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The project has reached 53-percent construction progress, Dizon said.
The PMRCIP includes constructing flood control structures, floodgates, pumping stations and other facilities designed to improve water flow and control the volume of water entering and passing through the Manggahan Floodway.
Once completed, the project is expected to reduce vulnerability to flooding in the Pasig-Marikina River basin by about 63 percent.
“The project is part of the government’s efforts to improve flood protection in communities along the Pasig-Marikina River system, which are vulnerable to flooding during prolonged and intense rainfall,” the DPWH chief said.
The DPWH stressed that accelerating the project is timely, as several parts of Metro Manila and nearby areas experienced recurring flooding due to continuous rains in recent weeks.
“The DPWH, with JICA’s assistance, is implementing the river improvement works to increase the river’s capacity and strengthen flood mitigation measures in the affected areas,” Dizon said.
The government expects the completed structures to provide longer-term protection to communities in Pasig, Marikina and other areas within the river basin, the top DPWH official added.
