Officials of the Manila city government on Tuesday, Jan. 27, broke ground for the soon-to-be-built Manila City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MCDRRMO) Flood Monitoring Command Center aimed at strengthening flood preparedness through real-time data and coordinated response.

Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso led the groundbreaking ceremony of the facility together with Vice Mayor Chi Atienza, MDRRMO Director Arnel Angeles, Manila North Cemetery Director Dandan Tan, and other city officials.

Located along Blumentritt Road in Sta. Cruz, the command center will enable city authorities to closely track floodwaters along rivers, creeks, and other flood-prone areas across Manila, improving decision-making during typhoons and heavy rains that hit Manila every year.

“This facility will empower our people to have proper data, or what you call data management, and monitoring of floodwater going around our city, riverside, and creekside,” Domagoso said.

According to the mayor, the facility will include a flood monitoring and command center, control and server rooms, and offices and training spaces for MDRRMO personnel, adding that with the combination of technology, environmental measures, and trained personnel, the command center will allow the city to rely on data analysis and planning rather than guesswork.

“This is where they started: with the right data, you can create the right action plan,” he said.

“This facility may save lives with accurate data, timely action, and information. I think we may save lives and property during challenging times, not just years, but every year of our lives. Hindi para ituro ang daliri kung kani-kaninong mukha, but to act on the matter to help its citizens or constituents (This facility will be built not to point fingers at anyone, but to act on the matter to help its citizens or constituents)," he added.

Respect for the dead 

In a big step towards modernization and addressing the city's long-standing problem of handling the dead, especially during disasters and calamities, the command center will also feature a free mortuary and three air-conditioned public viewing rooms, along with support facilities such as a generator room and elevators.

“For the first time, this facility also will build a coroner’s office where the remains that have been left for a long time will be taken care of by your city government in a proper and correct facility," Domagoso said, noting that the project responds to repeated requests from communities and is part of the city government’s effort to return taxpayer money through services that protect lives and restore dignity.

“Every life, every person, every human being that we may and can save is one success,” the mayor stressed.