Camanava anti-flood project set for takeoff

A flood control project touted to be the solution to the perennial flooding in the Caloocan-Malabon-Navotas-Valenzuela (Camanava) area, is finally set to take off after four years of delay.

Malabon City Mayor Amado Vicencio announced yesterday that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is well on its way to completing the bidding for the Camanava Flood Control and Drainage System Improvement Project initiated in 1998.

City engineer Ulysses Tumbocon said the project suffered delays due to changes in the composition of consultants and corresponding technical changes in the project plan.

The winning bidder is set to be announced next week, with the actual construction to start in November this year, officials said.

Among the participating bidders are Toyo Construction Ltd., Sumitomo Construction, Nishimatshu Construction, Taisei Corp., Shimizu Corp. and Hazama Corp., all Japanese firms.

Project engineer Carla Bartolo of the DPWH Project Management Office (PMO) said the Nishimatsu Corp. has tendered the lowest bid at P3.49 billion.

Actual construction activities could start by November this year, officials said. The facility is expected to be fully operational within the next five years.

"With the bidding in its final stages, the actual construction of the flood control system should begin in no time at all. This augurs well for all of us in Camanava, particularly in Malabon and Navotas, who have suffered long enough from floods," Vicencio said. – Jerry Botial