WITH the onset of the rainy season, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is moving to rehabilitate all pumping stations in the country to help ease flooding.
Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said on Thursday the move follows the directive of the president to modernize drainage in Metro Manila and other areas by rehabilitating and upgrading the 36 existing pumping stations.
Dizon first inspected the Padre Faura Pumping Station along Roxas Boulevard, which has not been operational for nearly a year, limiting its ability to drain floodwaters during heavy rains. At present, the station relies on two temporary pumps to manage water buildup in surrounding communities.
The station’s limited pumping capacity has slowed the recession of floodwaters during storms and monsoon rains, which inconvenienced students, residents, motorists, and commuters who pass through the affected areas.
He said restoring the station will significantly improve drainage in the areas stretching to Taft Avenue and P. Ocampo Street.
Communities in Malate, Kalaw, and Padre Faura are also expected to see improvements once the station resumes full operations.
Dizon said the goal is not only to reduce flooding but to ensure that floodwaters recede much faster after heavy rainfall.
“Even if flooding occurs, the restored pumping system should be able to quickly draw out accumulated water and minimize disruption,” he said.
The Padre Faura Pumping Station is expected to become fully operational by the first week of July.
Dizon also said three of the four pumping stations in Sunog Apog in Tondo, Manila, are expected to be operational soon.
He said the voluntary assessment by the private sector such as Prime Infra and the city government helped determine the root of the problem, and enabled the pumps to draw rainwater and garbage that clogged the pumps.
“What we noticed in the past was that the approach was a band-aid, not comprehensive. Now, what we are doing, with the help of Prime Infra and local governments, is looking at the whole thing so that the solution is long-term,” added Dizon.
Aside from Metro Manila, the rehabilitation also covers several provinces in Northern and Central Luzon, including Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, and Tarlac, which are vulnerable to flooding.
The program likewise extends to key urban centers in the Visayas and Mindanao, including the cities of Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod, and Cagayan de Oro, and Maguindanao, where flood risks remain a major concern.
WILLIAM DEPASUPIL
