‘Lake’ emerges on McArthur Highway in Valenzuela City

Children find hobby in catching small fry from it while green algae marks its fringes, but this "lake" during rainy days or a "pond" during sunny times is – believe it or not – once a road, a highway even.

Valenzuela residents are complaining over the slow pace of repair work by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) elevating the flood-prone portion of McArthur Highway in Malanday, Valenzuela City to as high as five feet. After more than a year, the road remains unfinished and the stagnant water have become more dangerous to motorists.

"I do not know what is keeping them (DPWH), the situation now is worse than it used to," said a resident, who travels across the road everyday on board a violently swinging jeepney caused by the large rocks, sand deposits and deep potholes hidden under the murky waters.

It is not unusual for the 500-meter road construction to have light vehicles conking out in the middle and a truck lying by its side, to its cargo spilled on the knee-deep waters, posing danger and causing injuries to many.

Commercial establishments in the area have also closed down or transferred elsewhere because of the poor business condition, even in a busy road intersection that had schools and jeepney terminals.

But if waters are not on the road in the finished portion of the project, the waters are in the homes of those living beside it as the elevated road appears to have simply pushed the waters to the now lower periphery.

In an earlier interview with DPWH officials, the waters are supposed to be funneled to the nearby creek bordering Valenzuela and Bulacan, and farther to the neighboring heavily-silted Meycauayan River. The project, however, seemed to be doomed, as residents noted that the sewage is not sucking the waters in. The project started from the creek more than a year ago and into Valenzuela, but as the finished part of the project currently stands, it serves more the purpose of a dike keeping the water on the road rather than into the creek and the river.

DPWH officials, particularly National Capital Region director Antonio Sta. Elena, could not be immediately reached for comment regarding the complaints. – Jose Aravilla