Metro Manila Flood Control Projects Underway, Worth P138 Billion

Metro Manila has at least three major flood control projects underway worth P138 billion, the Department of Public Works and Highways told a Senate hearing on the deluge spawned by Typhoon Ulysses (Vamco).

Ulysses inundated the capital in early November, submerging Marikina City in floods that drew comparisons to Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) in 2009. The projects include the Pasig-Marikina flood walls and the Marikina Dams, officials said.

Another project will address floods in the Laguna de Bay area, the Parañaque spillway, said DPWH flood control engineer Jerry Fano.

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The construction of flood control infrastructure should go hand in hand with the relocation of informal settlers who are vulnerable to floods, said Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri.

"There must be strong political will. We need to relocate the informal settlers para magkaroon ng honest to goodness flood dikes," he said.

Ulysses also stirred monsoon rains up north in Cagayan province, which was also submerged in floods that chased thousands to their rooftops. The deluge was blamed in part to the release of water from Magat Dam that concided with the height of the storm.

MORE ON CAGAYAN FLOODS:

#CagayanNeedsHelp: What Caused the Unprecedented Floods?

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Explainer: Why Magat Dam Released So Much Water to Cagayan