Aiming towards a flood-free Pasig City, Mayor Vico Sotto announced that the local government has formed a primary flood control committee that is tasked to create the city’s first ever Comprehensive Flood Control Master Plan.
Sotto made the announcement during the inauguration of the two new pumping stations in Barangay Sumilang, Pasig City on Thursday, Dec. 1.
The committee is composed of officials from the City Engineering Department, the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO), the City Planning Office, as well as the City Administrators and Mayor’s offices.
Speaking to the residents of Barangay Sumilang, Sotto shared how he held meetings with representatives from these offices and departments to review their flood mitigation plans for the city.
There is already an existing flood control master plan, Sotto explained, but he found it lacking, stating that it presented merely a map or list of the city’s current projects with no long-term plans stipulated in the document.
“Kaya tayo may master plan, tinatanaw natin kung ano ang magiging itsura one year, five years, 10 years from now (This is why we have a master plan in order to foresee and visualize what flood control looks like in Pasig one year, five years, and even 10 year from now),” Sotto said.
The new comprehensive plan aims o craft the ideal flood control system in the city, which includes short-term and long-term projects involving setting up pumping stations, automation in tools and equipment, river dredging, building revetment walls, as well as cleaning and clearing drainage canals among others. These projects include collaborations with other national or local government agencies.
It also aims to plan its projects as specifically as possible, detailing the proposed actions to address flooding and other problems, whether in narrow streets or populous barangays.
The committee was also created to bolster more effective communication between the stakeholders.
“Ang isang iniimprove talaga natin ay ang communication ng bawat opisina na ito. Madami tayong magagaling na engineer. Ang naging kahinaan lang ay minsan may kakulangan sa koordinasyon (One area we are really improving on is communication among offices. We have many excellent engineers. Our weakness lies in the lack of coordination),” Sotto said.
The committee has already held initial meetings following its creation this year. By the first quarter of 2023, the committee will undergo planning workshops.
Sotto said the committee is slated to present its comprehensive flood control master plan to Pasiguenos on Pasig City’s 450th anniversary on July 2, 2023 or "Araw ng Pasig."
New pumping stations
While the comprehensive flood control master plan is still in the works, the Pasig City local government continues to provide flood mitigation services to its constituents.
Sotto, along with Vice Mayor Robert “Dodot” Jaworski Jr. and Congressman Roman Romulo, attended the opening and ribbon-cutting of the two pumping stations built along Katwiran Street in Barangay Sumilang, Pasig City.
The city officials assured the citizens that the pumping stations will help improve the state of flooding in the barangay.
“Asahan po ninyo na patuloy tayo magtatrabaho. Hindi natin masosolusyonan ang mga problema sa loob ng isa o dalawang araw. Pero ang importante, malinaw ang direksyon, ang plano, at nakikita na inaaksyonan. One step at a time, inaayos po natin (Rest assured, your local government is doing its job. We will not resolve these problems in just one or two days. However, what’s important is the direction and plan are clear and we are taking action. One step at a time, we are fixing them),” Sotto said.
Jaworski and Romulo urged residents to stay alert especially in times of disasters, and assured them the local government is responsive to their needs in regards to issues with flooding.
Mai Ramos Gomez, barangay captain of Sumilang, officials from the Engineering Office, pumping station operators, and barangay residents were also present to witness the ceremony.
The city had previously inaugurated other pumping stations in Barangays Dela Paz (Hakbangan Creek) and Sta. Lucia (East Bank) last July 2021.