DPWH shores up Pasig River walls

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has made the 23-kilometer stretch of Pasig River more resilient to heavy flooding by building higher walls, an official said Thursday.

DPWH Undersecretary Rafael Yabut, who handles foreign-assisted projects, said they have already increased the walls of the Pasig River from one meter to 2.5 meters to prevent flooding even during heavy downpours such as what happened with storm “Ondoy” in 2009.

He said with this improvement, around 40 barangays near the river would be safe from flooding. 

“The 2.5-meter increase on the river wall were done in low areas of the river. This is to prevent flood intrusion, the migration of floodwaters like (what occurred during) Ondoy and the habagat (last August),” said Yabut.

He said the DPWH also used steel-reinforced concrete, noting that “it is very resistant to floodwater and its life span is up to 50 years, unless of course there is force majeure.”  

He said the agency is soliciting the support of local government units and barangays to improve the living conditions in areas near the waterway. 

In 2002, the DPWH completed phase one of the Pasig-Marikina River Channel Improvement Project, which required drawing up the detailed design. Last January, the agency finished phase two, which involved waterway improvement works.

But before they embark on phase three, wherein they would cover the gaps and would further strengthen portions of the existing wall, the government an information campaign to “educate our people to keep the river clean.”

Yabut said that the improvements on the Pasig River, which is a major waterway in Metro Manila, was made possible through a P5-billion loan from the Japanese government.