The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has started constructing a drainage outlet in Valenzuela to divert floodwaters that inundate nearby communities and sections of MacArthur Highway during heavy rains.

DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said the project aims to provide immediate flood relief before the onset of the rainy season in June.

Dizon, together with officials from the DPWH and the Valenzuela City government, recently inspected the ongoing drainage and road improvement works in Barangay Veinte Reales, particularly along T. Santiago Street near MacArthur Highway.

A previously grassy and unpaved area is now being developed into a road integrated with a drainage system designed to improve water flow and prevent flooding.

Flooding in the area has reached severe levels, with water sometimes rising to chest-deep during heavy rains, affecting several barangays and disrupting traffic along MacArthur Highway, Dizon said.

He noted that the construction of the North–South Commuter Railway (NSCR) also contributed to the problem.

“Nangalahati 'yung waterway at the same time, bumabaw din because of siltation and daming basurang na-accumulate bumabaw nang bumabaw (The waterway was halved and at the same time became shallow due to siltation and accumulated trash,),” Dizon said.

“So ang nangyayari, lahat ng tubig nag-o-overflow diyan, tumatapon ngayon. Lahat ng tubig napupunta sa MacArthur tumitigil diyan (As a result, all the water overflows there and spills out. All the water ends up at MacArthur and stops there,),” he added.

To improve drainage, the system being constructed will include an outfall that channels excess water toward Longos Creek near the Malanday area.

“Malaking bagay 'to kasi kung mapapansin niyo dati 'yung tubig daw di tumutuloy, dumidiretso dito, umiikot pa. So ngayon, mas mabilis na 'yung magiging flow (This is significant because previously the water would not flow straight and would circle around. Now, the flow will be faster,),” Dizon said.

Construction began in February and is expected to be completed by the end of March as part of efforts to reduce flooding before the rainy season.

Dizon added that the DPWH would coordinate with the Department of Transportation to identify a long-term solution to flooding in the area.

Valenzuela City Mayor Wes Gatchalian said around four to six barangays are affected by flooding and noted that the situation was not as severe several years ago.

“If you come here maybe 10 years ago or 8 years ago, maluwang po 'yan. May mga structures po dito pero di po kami ganun binabaha (If you came here 8 to 10 years ago, the area was wider. There were structures, but flooding was not this severe,),” Gatchalian said.

He added that flooding along MacArthur Highway also disrupts commuters and emergency services.

“'Yung commuters po doon sa MacArthur ang talagang kawawa. Hindi makabalik sa trabaho, ambulansya, hindi makapasok, kasi talaga ho 'yung tubig mataas po diyan (Commuters along MacArthur really suffer. They cannot get to work, ambulances cannot pass, because the water is really high there,),” he said.

“Pag baha rin, di rin makapasok ang commuter para sumakay sa future train po natin (During floods, commuters also cannot get in to ride our future train,),” he added.