Devastating flooding in the Island forced the government to look at the flooding problem and at ways to prevent Manila city to be submerged every year.
MANILA-It is a recurrent problem that Manila faces almost every year: torrential rains during the summer time with giant flooding bring the Filipino metropolis to a still stand and claim many victims. It happens every year, and every year, the country has to face the same disastrous situation.
The last flooding completely paralyzed Manila, affected two million people and killed another 49 in the Metropolitan area. More than half a million people are still waiting to get back to their home in Metro Manila and 16 provinces in southern and central Luzon The dire situation faced by many areas forced Filipino President Benigno Aquino to seriously address flood problems by building up infrastructure. The Philipino President already ordered the Department of Public Works and Highways at the end of last week to come up with a permanent solution to control flooding in the country. The Department has revealed on Monday flood mitigation projects to solve floods problem in the short-term. During a press conference Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson revealed that those projects will request a budget of US$ 100 million and they would be completed within a year time.
Secretary Singson added that these short term flood mitigation projects, which forms part of the flood control master plan, will entail the repair and rehabilitation of dike structures in Metro Manila and Central Luzon. The deadline has been fixed to six months. Some of the projects include a new dike in Pampanga, the rehabilitation and improvement of the Valenzuela-Obando-Meycauayan river dikes as well as the upgrade of the aging water pumping system of Metro Manila.
In the longer term, President Benigno Aquino has outlined the possible construction of dams and embankments along the rivers of Manila. It would help retain and then divert excess water from densely built areas in the centre of the Filipino capital. A World Bank-funded study proposes several flood control projects costing more than US$ seven billion.
Luc Citrinot a French national is a freelance journalist and consultant in tourism and air transport with over 20 years experience. Based in Paris and Bangkok, he works for various travel and air transport trade publications in Europe and Asia.
