PBBM orders study on watershed containment structures to curb flooding
At A Glance
- DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan said feasibility studies will be conducted for the proposed project, with the possibility of seeking funding assistance from the Japanese government.
President Marcos has directed the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to study the construction of additional containment structures for watersheds in the Sierra Madre to help reduce flooding and limit environmental damage.
Photo: Ryan Baldemor/PPA Pool
Marcos said this as he led the inspection of the Pasig–Marikina River Channel Improvement Project (PMRCIP) Phase IV in Marikina on Monday, Aug. 11.
In an interview, DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan said feasibility studies will be conducted for the proposed project, with the possibility of seeking funding assistance from the Japanese government.
“In the meantime, the President has instructed us to look into possible containment structures of watersheds of Sierra Madre,” he told reporters.
“Pag-aaralan namin kung ano ang mga pwedeng gagawin namin (We will study what measures can be done),” he added..
Phase IV of the PMRCIP, led by the DPWH in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency, aims to improve Metro Manila’s natural drainage system through structural and non-structural measures, including dikes, revetments, floodgates, and dredging of river channels.
Its coverage includes 7.95 kilometers of river improvements from the Manggahan Floodway to Marikina Bridge, featuring steel sheet pile revetments, reinforced concrete flood walls, and major drainage upgrades.
Bonoan said the completion of Phase IV will boost flood control efforts in Marikina, Montalban, and other parts of Metro Manila, while ongoing work on the Marikina Control Gate Structure (MCGS) is expected to further strengthen defenses against river overflow.
According to the DPWH, Phase IV of the PMRCIP is scheduled for completion by 2028, while the MCGS is targeted for 2029 or 2030.
Apart from the river inspection, the President also checked the installation of culvert pipes at the corner of Sumulong Highway and McDonald’s Avenue in Marikina City.