A former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) general manager-turned lawmaker has urged the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to direct barangay officials throughout the country to clear waterways as an anti-flood measure.

Rizal 3rd district Rep. Jojo Garcia made this appeal Wednesday, Aug. 13 during the House Committee on Public Accounts hearing on the issue of floods and failed flood control projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

“Ang pinaka-problema po ay ang basura. Ito ang experience namin sa maliit na bayan ng San Mateo (The main problem is garbage. This was our experience in the little town of San Mateo),” Garcia told his colleagues during the hearing presided by chairman Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon.

Garcia recalled that before the recent rains, he and his town mayor asked barangay officials to clear water channels in their communities. He said the move was "effective".

"Naging epektibo po ang ginawa nila, naibsan ang flooding sa San Mateo (What they did was effective, and spared San Mateo from flooding)."

Garcia recalled that in the past, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has involved barangay communities in preventing flooding.

“We could ask Secretary Jonvic Remulla to re-issue such a directive,” he said.

He pointed out that involving barangays in clearing waterways to minimize flooding was "just a short-term solution, which we should undertake while waiting for the medium-term and long-term solutions".

The problem with medium-term and long-term flood mitigation structures “is they are multi-year projects and they often get damaged whenever it rains,” he added.

Marikina City 2nd district Rep. Romero Quimbo recounted to his colleagues what his city and the DPWH had done to reduce flooding in his city.

He says Marikina “serves as the valley that receives floodwaters from its neighbors, including San Mateo and Antipolo and the Sierra Madre mountain range".

Quimbo also acknowledged the late Marikina City Mayor Bayani Fernando for his efforts in ensuring that no informal settlers lived along the Marikina River, thereby keeping the waterways clear.

He said the city government and the DPWH collaborated to “expand the water containment capacity of the Marikina River and Nangka River, constructed flood protection walls along Marikina River and built water interceptor channels".

Quimbo said underground water impounding structures were also put up to trap floodwaters. This was then pumped out after the rains.

But what was of big help in minimizing flooding in Marikina and downstream areas is the Upper Wawa Dam, a water supply facility of water concessionaire Manila Water, he added.

Quimbo pointed out that upon the Marikina local government unit’s request, a part of the dam is used to contain rainwater from the Sierra Madre. “It holds up to 20 million cubic meters of rainwater that could otherwise flow to Marikina and low-lying areas,” he noted.

He suggested that another dam project, Triple Dam, be pursued in the Sierra Madre area.

“This is the long-term solution to flooding in many parts of Metro Manila, including Quezon City and Caloocan City,” Quimbo said.