Cainta, Rizal Mayor Keith Nieto said Thursday, Aug. 13, that flooding in the municipality could be reduced by about 45 percent if a proposed drainage interceptor project along Marcos Highway is completed, with construction expected to begin this year.

Nieto said he had previously discussed the plan with a senator, whom he did not name, and proposed the drainage interceptor along Marcos Highway that would divert water directly to the Marikina River, preventing Cainta’s subdivisions from becoming catch basins for floodwaters.

He explained that water from Marcos Highway, Sumulong Highway, and nearby areas is being directed into Balanti and Halang creeks, which run through several subdivisions in Cainta.

However, he noted that the two creeks are too narrow to accommodate the large volume of water, causing them to overflow and flood nearby villages.

Months later, Nieto said the senator informed him that the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) would help with their proposed project. In August, Nieto personally met with MMDA Chairman Don Artes, who confirmed the agency’s support for the project.

The mayor said he told Artes that the local government had already addressed several flooding concerns, including the deployment of booster pumps in various areas, which helped keep many parts of the municipality flood-free.

He added that the drainage interceptor was the last project he wanted to ask for, to which Artes assured him of the MMDA’s support.

With the project, he explained, "Instead na dumaan ang tubig sa makikitid na creek sa loob ng subdivision, ididiretso na ito sa drainage interceptor na nasa mismong highway papunta sa Marikina River (Instead of passing through narrow creeks inside subdivisions, the water will be diverted to the interceptor drainage along the highway and directed toward the Marikina River).”

Based on the report received by the mayor, the project has already been put out for bidding, with construction of Phases 1 and 2 expected to take two years under the supervision of MMDA Chairman Don Artes.

While waiting for the construction of the interceptor project to begin, Nieto said the simultaneous operation of five booster pumps in different parts of Cainta has helped manage flooding.

He likened the booster pumps to airport “walkalators,” saying they help move water faster toward outfalls at a rate of 1.5 to 2 cubic meters per second.

"Ito ang kauna-unahang pagkakataon na ginamit natin nang sabay-sabay ang limang pumps. Nagsasaluhan ito na parang serye ng train station para mabilis na maibuga ang tubig at hindi mag-stagnant (This is the first time we have operated all five pumps simultaneously. They work together like a series of train stations to quickly discharge water and prevent it from stagnating),” the mayor added.