Saturday, July 11, 2009 [ manilatimes.net ]
Residents of Tondo, and parts of Sampaloc and Santa Cruz can now look forward to less flooding during the rainy season in their respective areas after government officials started the operations of a new pumping station in Abucay Street, Tondo on Friday.
President Gloria Arroyo led the inauguration of the Abucay pumping station, a P78-million facility that will act as a receptacle for floodwaters that pass through the 2.9-km Blumentritt Interceptor.
“You will no longer experience flooding in your homes,” Arroyo proudly told residents Tondo.
The new facility, adjacent to the Estero de Maypajo, is a major project of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) that aims to solve the flooding problem in some areas of the capital city.
Manila’s Tondo, Santa Cruz, and Sampaloc districts, which are low-lying areas, experience flooding as it receives most of the floodwaters from Quezon City during heavy downpours.
MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando, who joined the President in the inauguration, said the Abucay pumping station will complement the Quiapo pumping station.
“We have the Quiapo pumping station but it cannot control the flood by itself. With this facility, which is completely constructed and assembled by the MMDA, we hope to eliminate flooding in the nearby areas,” Fernando said.
Flooding in Sampaloc— especially in España Boulevard— and Santa Cruz, where several universities are located, would now be lessened, officials said.
The new facility, adjacent to the Estero de Maypajo is MMDA’s solution to the yearly flooding problem in the area of Sampaloc.
The inauguration ceremonies was also attended by Manila officials: Mayor Alfredo Lim, Representatives Benjamin Asilo of District 1, Jaime Lopez of District 2, Zenaida Angping of District 3, and Trisha Bonoan-David of District 4, Councilor Carlo Lopez of District 2.
-- Rommel C. Lontayao
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