Expect the start of construction in the coming days for the final stage of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) project with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for the Pasig-Marikina River Channel Improvement Project (PMRCIP).

The Phase 4 of PMRCIP of the DPWH and JICA will complete a project that aims to lessen flooding in Metro Manila due to overflowing of both the Pasig and Marikina rivers.

DPWH Secretary Roger G. Mercado met with Ambassador of Japan to the Philippines, Kazuhiko Koshikawa on Tuesday, Nov. 16 during the groundbreaking ceremony of the project segment held at EFCOS Compound, in Barangay Manggahan, Pasig City.

Also present during the event were DPWH Undersecretary and Chief Implementer of Flagship Projects under “Build, Build, Build” (BBB) Program Emil K. Sadain, and JICA Chief Representative Eigo Azukizawa.

“When completed, this project will protect communities close to Pasig and Marikina River, specifically in areas of Pasig, Quezon and Marikina Cities, as well as Cainta and Taytay Municipalities, Rizal Province,” said Mercado.

Under the fourth phase of PMRCIP, it will cover structural and non-structural measures that will mitigate flood damages in Metro Manila caused by channel overflow of the Pasig-Marikina River.

Sadain, who is also in-charge of DPWH UPMO Operations, said the scope of works under this phase include channel improvement works for Lower/Middle Marikina River, as well as the construction of Manggahan Control Gate Structure (MCGS), and one floodgate and one sluicegate at the joining sections of Cainta and Taytay rivers to Manggahan Floodway.

The improvement works will be undertaken along the 7.95-kilometer stretch of Lower/Middle Marikina River, with excavation/dredging works of about 2 million cubic meters, steel sheet pile revetment stretching 11.6 kilometers, and reinforced concrete flood wall along its 6.1-kilometer section.

Asfor the drainage improvement, it will also be undertaken that involves the construction of reinforced concrete pipe in 116 locations, manhole in 253 locations, collector pipes, and flap gates in 102 locations.

The Manggahan Control Gate Structure will be constructed 600 meters downstream from diversion point of Manggahan Floodway while the Cainta Floodgate and Taytay Sluicegate will be at the joining sections of Cainta and Taytay Rivers to the Manggahan Floodway Roller gate.

The 4-Phase Pasig-Marikina River Channel Improvement Project was formulated by the DPWH through the Master Plan for Flood-control and Drainage Improvement in Metro Manila, with JICA providing technical assistance.

Phase 1 covered the Detailed Design of the overall PMRCIP, which was completed in March 2002. Phase 2 had the Pasig River Channel improvement from Delpan Bridge to Napindan Hydraulic Control Gate Structure completed in May 2013, while Phase 3 covered the Lower Marikina Channel improvement from Napindan Channel to downstream Manggahan Floodway that included additional dredging completed in July 2020.

The entire project to protect Metro Manila from flooding to save lives and protect properties is funded under a loan agreement between the Philippine government through DPWH and the Japanese government through JICA.