P22-B antiflood works hinged on World Bank loan

IF YOU do find yourself in the unfortunate situation of being in a stalled, flooded car, and abandoning is the only option, then disconnect the battery if you still have time.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will start constructing next year a total of 20 pumping stations once the World Bank (WB) approves a loan for the P22-billion project that is seen to alleviate recurring floods in the capital.

“We will build more pumping stations. If you notice, even if there’s flood, it quickly subsides because we were able to improve our pumping stations,” MMDA chair Emerson Carlos said a day after President Duterte announced in his State of the Nation Address that his administration will put up new pumping stations in strategic places to address the perennial problem.

Aside from the new installations, Carlos said 38 of the 54 existing pumping stations will undergo rehabilitation under the first phase of the project, which is now awaiting approval from the National Economic and Development Authority before the WB grants the loan.

The World Bank would shoulder 60 percent of the project cost, while the government would shoulder the remaining 40 percent, he added.

Once approved, Carlos said that the construction of the first five pumping stations would start next year. Of the 20 new stations, 13 would be in Quezon City, three in Muntinlupa, two in Valenzuela, and one each in the cities of Taguig and Mandaluyong.

The 38 pumping stations that will be rehabilitated are in Manila (18), Malabon (12), Taguig (4), Quezon City (2), Makati (1) and Pasay (1).

The P22.16-billion project is divided into four components, projected to be completed by 2021.

These are the modernization of drainage areas (P15.5 billion); minimizing solid waste in waterways (P3.3 billion); participatory housing and resettlement (P1.99 billion); and project management, support and coordination (P1.3 billion). –Jovic Yee