MMDA blames floods on unfinished DPWH projects

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has yet to complete at least 100 drainage improvement and road repair projects in Metro Manila and these could have contributed to the flooding of several streets in the metropolis, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said Sunday.

“The DPWH has so many unfinished projects that should be rushed, especially this rainy season,” MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino said during the agency’s weekly radio program “MMDA sa GMA” over dzBB Sunday.

Tolentino said the DPWH’s projects are in the cities of Manila, Caloocan, Quezon City, Taguig, Pasay, and Las Piñas.

Tolentino added that in Manila alone, the DPWH has some 20 ongoing road reblocking and drainage improvement projects, particularly along Tayuman, Escolta, Carriedo, Blumentritt, Laon Laan and Abad Santos streets.

According to Tolentino, he has ordered Noemie Recio, the director of the MMDA’s traffic engineering center, to meet with DPWH officials this week.