Malabon City Mayor Jeannie Sandoval on Wednesday, August 29, vowed to initiate more anti-flooding projects in the city following the completion of the repair of the floodgate in Barangay Dampalit.
Mayor Jeannie Sandoval checks the progress of the repair on the Barangay Dampalit floodgate. (Malabon City PIO)
The repair of Barangay Dampalit floodgate was undertaken with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
The City Engineering Department immediately coordinated with the MMDA after the floodgate was damaged during high tide this month.
“Isang magandang balita po para sa atin ang malaman na operational na pong muli ang Barangay Dampalit Floodgate dahil magagawa na muli nitong mabawasan ang pagpasok ng tubig sa lungsod lalo na kapag high tide na nagiging sanhi ng pagbabaha. Maraming salamat sa MMDA at DPWH sa kanilang pagsisikap na maiayos ang nasirang floodgate na ito dahil siguradong makakatulong muli ito para mas mapalakas ang seguridad at kaligtasan ng mga Malabueño mula sa pagbabaha lalo na kung may malakas na pag-uulan (It is good news for us to know that the Barangay Dampalit Floodgate is operational again because it will be able to reduce the water entering the city especially during high tide which causes flooding. I would like to thank the MMDA and DPWH for their efforts to repair this damaged floodgate because it will surely help to strengthen the security and safety of Malabueños from flooding especially if there are heavy rains),” Mayor Sandoval said.
“Mayroon man hong mga floodgate na nasira na nakakapagdulot muli ng pagbabaha sa lungsod, ay sisiguruhin nating maisasaayos muli ang mga ito para sa kapakanan ng bawat isa. Patuloy rin tayong makikipag-ugnayan sa mga awtoridad upang makabuo ng plano o proyekto na siyang magtitiyak na ang pagkasira ng mga floodgate at malalang pagbabaha ay hindi na muling mangyayari sa atin sa mga susunod na taon (Even if there were damaged floodgates that caused flooding in the city, we will make sure that they are repaired for the benefit of everyone. We will also continue to contact the authorities to come up with a plan or project that will ensure that these floodgates are protected and severe flooding will not happen to us again in the years to come),” she added.
The MMDA and DPWH personnel conducted repairs including the replacement of the floodgates, fabrication and installation of the floodgate, and the removal of the sheet pile that served as a temporary barrier to prevent high tide from affecting barangay Dampalit.
The city government made sure that extended pumping station operations in the area were conducted while the repair was ongoing.
The city mayor also visited the the damaged Malabon-Navotas River navigational gate to check on the status of the repair.
“Kahapon po ay naiangat na sa maintenance position ang gate upang makita kung ano pang kailangang ayusin dito (Yesterday, the gate has reached maintenance position to see what else needs to be fixed here),” she said.
“Naikabit na din po ang bago nitong link arm na may karagdagang bolts kaya naman siguradong mas matibay at mapapakinabangan ito sa mahabang panahon. Inaasahan po nating magiging operasyunal ng muli ang navigational gate bago dumating ang mga susunod pang high tide sa ating lungsod (Its new link arm has also been attached with additional bolts, so it is sure to be more durable and useful for a long time. We hope that the navigational gate will be operational again before the next high tides arrive in our city),” Sandoval added.
Sandoval had earlier met with the DPWH and the MMDA for the allocation of the Quick Response Fund that will be used for the repair and upgrade of the Tullahan River wall that collapsed due to heavy flooding that affected the city in August as well as for other disaster and emergency response operations.
The city government placed sandbags reinforced with bamboo sticks and nets in the area to prevent flooding in the barangays near the river wall.
The malfunction of the Malabon-Navotas River navigational gate was reported in early June, allegedly caused by a shipping boat passing through the waterway.