Sona promises: Has Aquino solved Metro Manila flooding problems?

España Boulevard in Manila during the onslaught of Tropical Storm “Mario” in September 2014. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Citing the onslaught of Tropical Storm “Ondoy” in 2009 that heavily flooded Metro Manila and nearby provinces, President Aquino in his 2013 State of the Nation Address (Sona) promised to allocate P6.2 billion for flood-control projects in the metropolis.

The centerpiece project was the P560-million Blumentritt Interceptor Catchment, which could contain water equivalent to the contents of “14 Olympic-size swimming pools.”

According to the Flood Control and Sewerage Management Office of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), the rate of subsidence of floodwater in Metro Manila during the first quarter of 2015 is 30 minutes to 1.5 hours after heavy rain.

Below is the President’s flood control program and corresponding developments.

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Promise: Remedying the problem of flooding in Metro Manila (Sona 2013)

In the 2015 national budget, the government allocated P47.3 billion for flood-control and drainage projects across the country through the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH); P7.02 billion to improve carbon sequestration and flood reduction through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR); and P276.9 million for flood control and sewerage management program through the MMDA.

In 2014, the MMDA began upgrading and rehabilitating 12 old pumping stations in Metro Manila. The project was completed in the second quarter of 2015.

In 2015, the DPWH allocated more than P8.48 billion for 360 projects in flood-prone areas in Metro Manila. Quezon City got the biggest funding, P1.47 billion, followed by Manila with P1.21 billion.

READ: Effectiveness of P351-B Metro Manila flood control program being questioned

According to its first quarter 2015 accomplishment report, the MMDA cleared 106,422 meters of drainage laterals, dredged and deepened 14,101 m of open waterways and desilted 3,350 m of drainage mains. But it fell short of the target outputs of 124,490 m, 20,411 m and 3,883 m for the three jobs for the period.

On its operations and maintenance of 54 pumping stations in Metro Manila, the MMDA pumped out 6.582 cubic meters of floodwater and collected 2,343 cu m of garbage during the first quarter. But it failed to meet the target outputs of 11.777 cu m and 13,200 cu m for the two jobs for the period.

The MMDA fabricated and installed 87 manhole covers and 60 steel gratings in the previous quarter, up from 42 manhole covers and 18 steel gratings installed during the same period in 2014.

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Promise: Relocation of informal settlers (Sona 2013)

As of October 2014, the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council provided 222,789 housing units to low-income families, or 63 percent more than its target of 136,859 for 2014.

Also as of October 2014, the National Housing Authority provided 40,052 permanent housing units and 143,076 housing materials as assistance to calamity victims in 2011-2014. During that period, 1.59 million houses were either totally or partially destroyed by typhoons.

READ: Metro Manila informal settlers

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Promise: Filing of cases against people who closed or obstructed waterways (Sona 2013)

In June, the MMDA warned that people caught dumping used grease and oil—which when hardened could clog drainage systems—into the drainage would be fined P2,000 to P5,000 or their business permits may be revoked.

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Promise: Construction of the Blumentritt Interceptor Catchment (Sona 2013)

According to the DPWH-NCR Maintenance Office, the construction is 80-percent complete as of July. Phases 1 (Laong Laan Street to the area between Dapitan and Piy Margal streets), 4 (M. Natividad Street-Aurora Avenue to Manila North Cemetery) and 5 (Blumentritt Avenue-Calamba Street to Laong Laan) are 100-percent complete, while Phases 2 (Manila North Cemetery on Calavite Street) and 3 (Javier Street to M. Natividad Street-Aurora Avenue) are 94- and 60-percent complete, respectively.

The P560-million project, which started in July 2013, was supposed to be finished in 300 days. It is 3.3 kilometers long, 6-m wide and 3-m deep.

READ: DPWH: Flood project delayed by Maynilad pipe work

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Promise: Priority to relocate more than 19,400 families living along major waterways in Metro Manila (Sona 2013)

As of July 2014, 25,000 informal settler families (ISFs) had been relocated to nearby provinces under the Oplan Likas (Lumikas para Iwas Kalamidad at Sakit) of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

As of October 2014, 52,391 housing units were completed. It was part of the P50-billion five-year housing program for 104,219 ISFs living near danger zones and major waterways that began in 2011. -Rafael L. Antonio. Sources: Official Gazette, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of the Interior and Local Government, and Inquirer Archives