DPWH slams defective Manila pumping station

MANILA, Philippines —  Flood works investigators were appalled by an inoperable pumping station in Manila that was already fully paid for in 2020, with the secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) lamenting the “indifference” of those behind the project.

Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso scolded Manila public works officials for allegedly milking money from the Sunog Apog Pumping Station in Tondo by constructing it in phases.

Construction of the pumping station began in 2017 and was divided into six phases, according to Dizon, costing a total of P774 million. The DPWH has since allocated an additional P94 million for repairs.

Dizon, however, said he doesn’t believe this will fix the problem.

The DPWH chief noted that the budget issues tied to the pumping station mirrored those of a substandard flood control project in Arayat, Pampanga, which he and Magalong inspected on Tuesday.

“This has become a pattern. Substandard and ghost projects were being funded every year,” Dizon said.

“The P254-million Arayat project began in 2018, but the sheet piles collapsed just a year after becoming operational. Whoever recommended redoing the project is gago (stupid),” he added.

The pumping station was intended to ease flooding in the areas of Divisoria, Gagalangin, Hermosa, Sunog Apog and Tayuman.

Moreno, however, said the project only worsened the situation.

“Without this pumping station, water in the river is manageable, unless it overflows,” he said. “With this pumping station, the flood control became uncontrollable.”

Moreno added that the project was not coordinated with the local government, resulting in the lack of a permit and the electricity needed to operate it.

Dizon, meanwhile, dismissed his subordinates’ suggestion that the project still requires an additional P200 million to be fully functional.