The construction period for two of the government's flood mitigation projects in Cavite and Metro Manila has been extended to up to five more years and consequently received additional funding.
President Marcos on Tuesday, Nov. 5, first approved the extension of the construction period and other adjustments to the Cavite Industrial Area-Flood Risk Management Project.
The project's implementation period was originally set from October 2019 to April 2024. But the board of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), chaired by Marcos, approved a 65-month extension—from April 2024 to September 2029.
The board also greenlighted the change in the scope of work, including widening of diversion channels and additional drainage channels, among others.
Another adjustment was a loan reallocation totaling 1 billion Japanese yen (or P383 million) from consulting services (from 384 million Japanese yen or P147 million) and contingencies.
As of Sept. 30, 2024, the project has an overall physical accomplishment of 44.21 percent, with negative slippage of 55.79 percent. It has a fund utilization rate of 35.42 percent.
The project aims to mitigate flood damage in the lower reach of San Juan River Basin and its adjacent Maalimango Creek Drainage Area in Cavite.
Meanwhile, Marcos also approved the 74.32-percent increase (or P24.5 billion) in the Phase IV of the Pasig-Marikina River Channel Improvement Project. The total project cost increased from P33 billion to P57.6 billion.
There will also be a 63-month extension for the project implementation—from December 2025 to March 2031—as well as changes in scope of work, such as the design of the Middle Marikina River, modifications in drainage facilities, and additional work.
"Ang concern ko rin (My other concern) is the design. Does it take it to account the new weather? Because ano na ‘yan, danger area na ‘yang Marikina talaga (Marikina is already a danger area). The levels of water in the last two big typhoons we had, we came to within half a meter of the limit bago (before) mag spillover,” the President said.
A loan reallocation totaling 3.3 billion Japanese yen (or P1.2 billion) from consulting services (from 1.6 billion Japanese yen or P651 million) and contingencies to the civil works component was also approved by the Board, including a supplemental loan of 45.7 billion Japanese Yen (or P17.5 billion).
The Pasig-Marikina River Channel Improvement Project aims to mitigate flood damage in Metro Manila caused by channel overflow of the Pasig-Marikina River.
It will benefit residents of the cities of Pasig, Marikina, and Quezon City in Metro Manila, and the municipalities of Taytay and Cainta in Rizal.