By Katrina Gracia Consebido
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) clarified on Tuesday, Aug. 9, the recent flooding in some streets of Manila on Friday, Aug. 5, was caused by Dolomite Beach.
MMDA Acting General Manager Baltazar Melgar stressed that “it is not the beach” but the “unfinished pumping stations and a pipeline” by the Department of Public Ways and Highways (DPWH) that caused flooding.
“Dolomite beach has no connection to the recent flooding in the area,” Melgar said.
“The reason why flood water subsided during heavy rains last Friday was the ongoing construction of three pumping stations and a pipeline by the Department of Public Works and Highways which is expected to be completed by October,” he added.
Three pumping stations in the streets of Padre Faura drainage, Remedios drainage, and Estero De San Antonio were part of the engineering solutions that the national government has “put in place” to make the quality of water in Manila Bay “swimmable” and improve the water quality as part of the national government’s initiative efforts in rehabilitating it.
Melgar also explained that the slow storm waters was “diverted to the Pasig River thru the Balete Pumping Station instead of discharging directly into the Manila Bay pending the completion of the three pumping stations.”
“These storm waters can be safely discharged directly into the Manila Bay because it can be diluted,” he added.
MMDA assured that it is coordinating with DPWH to operate a mobile pump in some areas to discharge the water to the Manila Bay.
– gb
