By Marita Moaje | Philippine News Agency
Navotas City officials are stepping up efforts to fix the city’s aging navigational gate and collapsed river wall following days of high tide and flooding that forced residents of Barangay San Jose to evacuate.
In a social media post on Monday, Navotas Lone District Rep. Toby Tiangco said he is working closely with the Department of Public Works and Highways-National Capital Region (DPWH-NCR), Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and the local district engineering office to ensure that repairs to the critical navigational gate meet international welding and safety standards.
“Nagpunta po kami kay DPWH Secretary Manny Bonoan at sinabi ko na po, kasi luma na rin itong gate na to, malapit na siya mag-30 years. Ang request nga natin magawan ng pangalawang gate o ng bagong gate,” he said.
The 30-year-old gate plays a crucial role in controlling the water level of Navotas River. Officials say the driving arm mechanism, which lifts the gate, must be fully operational to prevent river water from surging to nearby communities during high tide.
Tiangco said inspection revealed cracks in the gate’s driving arm, further highlighting the need for careful and permanent repairs.
The collapse of a private river wall on Saturday also caused neck-deep flood in Barangay San Jose.
“Kung maayos po yung navgate (navigational gate), maharangan natin ang pagpasok ng tubig,” he said.
Temporary barriers such as sandbags and plywood have been put up to hold back water in the meantime, but residents were advised to stay alert as more high tides are forecast.
A 1.9-meter tide was recorded on Sunday, inundating parts of Navotas and neighboring Malabon.
“So ‘yong driving arm na lang ang natitira, kaya lang, ‘yan ang pinakamabigat ang dala na load. Kumbaga sa ano, ‘yan ang bumubuhat, kaya dapat ‘yan makumpuni nila nang maayos. Siyempre welding po ‘yan so very critical ang pag-ayos nito,” he said.
The lawmaker noted that since the driving arm is very critical, it could not be simply activated without thorough testing and procedures, thus, repairs should undergo testing under the American Welding Society and Bureau of Shipping standards to make sure the structure will hold.
To prevent massive flooding incidents in the long term, Tiangco requested Bonoan to fund a second navigational gate.
“Ang commitment naman niya ay hahanapan nila ng pondo at pinabigay na kay DE (district engineer) ang report, the next day nabigay na report para masimulan na ang proseso ng paghanap muna ng pondo para magawan ng pangalawang gate,” Tiangco said.
“Pero siyempre medyo matagal ‘yan. ‘Di naman ‘yan magagawa ng isang taon, so kailangan mapaayos muna ito ng maayos habang ginagawa ‘yon.”
