March 03, 2009 07:52 PM Tuesday [ journal.com.ph ]
Flooding in Manila’s largest districts would soon be a thing of the past with the installation of a new pumping station in Tondo and the ongoing rehabilitation of the drainage system in Blumentritt area.
Manila’s Fourth District Rep. Ma. Theresa Bonoan-David initiated the flood prevention measures as early as 2007. She thanked President Arroyo for giving attention to their problem by allocating funds for the project.
The rehabilitation project which started last January and is expected to be finished in November of this year has three stages.
She called on Representatives Jaime Lopez and Zenaida Angping, of 2nd and 3rd Districts, respectively, to help her ensure the success of the project as it would also benefit their constituents.
The lady solon said Phase 1 covers the Piy Margal drainage under her jurisdiction; the Blumentritt interceptor in Phase 2 under Angping and the Solis-Tecson drainage in Phase 3 under Lopez’s area.
Bonoan-David stressed the new pumping station in Abucay, Tondo which would be completed in May of this year, would be ineffective if the drainage system is already old and clogged up with garbage.
She said residents must also be responsible in disposing their wastes to improve the city’s flood control system as well as maintain cleanliness.
The lady solon likewise called on barangay officials to make dredging operations their year-round activity and make sure that that the creeks and other vital waterways are placed under close monitoring.
“I call on residents to be vigilant and sensitive in this undertaking. We have to maintain cleanliness and discipline ourselves to ensure that our flood control programs will not be hampered and constantly functional,” Bonoan-David said.
In past years, almost 70 percent of the Sampaloc District, where the university belt area is situated, experienced waist-deep floodwaters during rainy season..
Around 170,000 students from public elementary and high schools are also affected as main roads leading to their respective schools are under water and impassable even to big vehicles.
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