The Pasig City local government inaugurated on Tuesday, July 27, its two new pumping stations to help ease flooding in the city during heavy rains and storms.
Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto led the inauguration of the Dela paz (Hakbangan Creek) and Sta. Lucia (East Bank) pumping stations and said that these were already used last week during the continuous onslaught of monsoon rains.
"May mga lugar na ngayon lang hindi binaha sa 17-meter water level ng ilog. Maraming factor, pero nakatulong ang dalawang pumping stations na ito (There are now some areas that were not affected by floods even with the 17-meter water level of the river. There are a lot of factors, but these pumping stations were a big help," Sotto said in a Facebook post.
"Bukas, may meeting kami ng Flood Control at DRRMO staff para sa report nila. Naantala ang implementasyon ng masterplan (una, bawal ang construction nung ECQ, at pangalawa, malaking pondo ang kinailangan sa COVID-response).. pero malaki pa rin ang improvement natin (Tomorrow, we're going to meet with the Flood Control and DRRMO (Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office) staff for their report. The implementation of the master plan was postponed (first, because of the ECQ's prohibition on construction works, and second, the COVID response required a large budget), however, there was still a big improvement," he added.
The mayor also lauded the city government's staff and rescuers who worked tirelessly amid the onslaught of "habagat," especially the pumping station operators.
On Saturday, July 24, the city evacuated some of its residents after Marikina River's water level reached 16.41 meters, prompting authorities to raise second alarm.
READ MORE: https://mb.com.ph/2021/07/24/87-families-evacuated-in-pasig-city-amid-continuous-rains-lgu-suspends-covid-19-vaccination/