The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is eyeing to replicate the G. Araneta Avenue model in Quezon City in all its flood mitigation measures when it submitted its budget for proposal for various projects next year.

For instance, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizons said they proposed a P1.5 billion drainage rehabilitation for the entire stretch of Taft Avenue from Pasay City to Manila which is usually submerged in flood during heavy rains.

He said four projects were also proposed under 2027 budget for the España Boulevard in Manila, which has been perennially flooded during the rainy season, but some of the flood mitigation projects will begin as early as next month using the savings of the DPWH.

“We already submitted the DPWH budget for 2027. The budget includes flood management and flood mitigation projects,” said Dizon during a Palace briefing.

He said among the priorities are addressing flooding in urban centers, as well as implementation of master plan for various infrastructure projects across the country.

Flooding has been a regular scene in Metro Manila and nearby areas during the rainy season and during the Palace briefing, Dizon highlighted the case of the G. Araneta Avenue in Quezon City which is usually submerged into several feet of floodwaters.

But after interventions were made five to six months ago, Dizon said the local residents and motorists could attest to the significant improvements in the area—floodwater that does not immediately rise and floodwater that immediately subsides.

For Dizon, this is the kind of flood intervention measures that must be properly implemented to finally bring comfort and lessen the stress of residents in various flood-prone areas.

Formula

Dizon said one of the measures implemented for the G. Araneta Avenue is replacing old drainage pipes with bigger and wide ones—the size is either doubled or tripled using the latest modern drainage called HDPE.

HDPE, or high-density polyethylene is a strong, stiff, and chemical-resistant plastic made from petroleum and is widely used for durable packaging and fluid piping because it does not absorb water and resists harsh weather.

But using bigger and modern pipes is just one of the measures, according to Dizon.

He said this is being reinforced by regular dredging and cleaning of waterways and cleaning of garbage, especially along the entry points of drainage systems and along the waterways.

Dizon said the DPWH and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) have been working together to regularly check the condition of all pumping stations in Metro Manila.

“If one of them is not working, we immediately deploy mobile pumps similar to what we did in Marikina and Las Piñas in this recent flooding,” said Dizon.

PBBM order

President Marcos was elated by news of the successful flood mitigation measures and Dizon said the Chief Executive wanted to replicate them to all areas, especially urban areas, with flooding problems.

“The President's order is to address this problem from north to south. While it will take time since this is a decades-long problem, we are doing our best to implement the projects properly,” said Dizon.