Weeks of habagat rains and recurring flooding in parts of Metro Manila have renewed attention on efforts to strengthen the capital’s defenses against rising floodwaters, including the Japan-backed Pasig-Marikina River Channel Improvement Project, which is now 53-percent complete.
The project is being accelerated as the Marcos administration seeks to improve flood protection along the Marikina River, with Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon saying President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to speed up construction in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
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Flood Protection Works Gain Urgency
The ongoing work involves floodgates, pumping stations and other infrastructure intended to improve the river system’s ability to move excess water and manage its flow toward the Manggahan Floodway.
Once completed, the project is expected to reduce the areas vulnerable to flooding in the Pasig-Marikina River Basin by about 63 percent. The expected improvement is particularly significant for communities in Marikina, Pasig and other locations exposed to flooding.
“The project could prove crucial as Metro Manila braces for increasingly intense rainfall during the rainy season, with the Marikina River historically among the region’s most dangerous flood points,” Dizon said.
The Marikina River passes through heavily populated areas before linking with the Pasig River system, making its water levels a major concern during periods of intense rainfall. When the river rises rapidly, water can overflow its banks and reach communities situated in low-lying areas.
Lessons From Past Flood Disasters
The urgency of flood protection is underscored by the experience of Typhoon Ondoy in September 2009, when the Marikina River recorded its highest level. Ondoy brought 455 millimeters of rain in just nine hours, the highest rainfall recorded in Metro Manila and nearby areas in 42 years.
The current habagat season again highlights how quickly heavy rainfall can place pressure on Metro Manila’s drainage and river systems. While the Pasig-Marikina project is still under construction, its progress points to the importance of completing long-term flood-control infrastructure before communities face the next major rainfall event.
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