After eight years of inaction, the long-delayed flood mitigation works at the Sunog Apog Pumping Station in Tondo, Manila are finally moving forward.
According to Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon, it was President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. himself who ordered that the pumping stations get repaired before the rainy season begins next year.
“Ang importante lang, nagbigay tayo ng deadline, nagbigay ang Pangulo ng deadline, kasi ‘yun ang request ni Yorme.”
“Ang importante lang, nagbigay tayo ng deadline, nagbigay ang Pangulo ng deadline, kasi ‘yun ang request ni Yorme, na bago magsimula ‘yung susunod na rainy season, at least three of the four pumps dito, gumagana na,” Dizon explained.
Joining him the inspection were Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Atty. Romando Artes and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso.
Dizon pointed out that the voluntary assessment made by the private sector like Prime Infra and the local government helped a lot in identifying the problem and restoring the pumping system.
“Ang napansin namin noong nakaraan, band-aid ang approach, hindi kabuuan.”
“Ang napansin namin noong nakaraan, band-aid ang approach, hindi kabuuan. Ngayon, ang ginagawa na natin, sa tulong ng Prime Infra at mga local government, buo na ang tinitingnan natin para pang-matagalan na ang solusyon,” the public chief said.
Hand in hand with the restoration of the pumping system is Oplan Kontra Baha which directs the continuous cleaning of esteros, canals, rivers and waterways.
