Developer says project not cause of flooding

MANILA, Philippines -  A property developer declared that its Circulo Verde residential project along the Marikina River in Bagumbayan, Quezon City does not cause flooding in nearby areas and even enhances flood control measures.

Ortigas & Co., Limited Partnership, in a statement, said its Circulo Verde project, located along Calle Industria Road, has never reclaimed land, nor has it enlarged its property or encroached on the river.

The company issued the statement after Marikina City official accused the project of encroaching on the Marikina River which supposedly resulted in flooding in nearby areas.

“Ortigas has not built anything beyond the bounds of its property. In fact, the development of the site will improve the flow of the river, thereby helping reduce flooding in upstream areas,” the property developer said.

“A case in point is the riverbank protection wall that we have started to build. The wall is designed to prevent further siltation of the river and improve its flow,” Ortigas & Co. added.

The company also explained that the soil deposits that can be observed on Circulo Verde’s side of the river are partly a by-product of erosion and a result of dredging and desilting activities conducted by the Metro Manila Development Authority to increase the river’s capacity and improve its flow.

“The silt removed from the river is temporarily piled up by the MMDA at the Circulo Verde property prior to it being hauled out. It should be clarified that the soil does not come from the project. Its accumulation around the property is caused by upstream erosion, as well as the desilting operations being conducted by the MMDA.”