Belmonte orders more flood prevention measures

MANILA, Philippines - The Quezon City government has begun implementing measures to lessen, if not eliminate, flooding in the city, particularly during heavy rains.

Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. directed the city’s engineering department to maximize the use of two newly acquired vacuum sewer jet machines in declogging manholes and canals of garbage and other waste materials.

The city spent P34.1 million for the purchase of the declogging machines. Each machine has the capacity to extract at least five cubic meters of waste material daily.

The city engineering department, under engineer Joselito Cabungcal, also recommended the installation of additional inlets, desilting of box culverts, dredging, riprapping of creeks and drainage rehabilitation to lessen flooding in the city.

The engineering department has also scheduled an inspection of the different waterways in Quezon City, including the Diliman creek, Culiat creek, Mariblo creek, La Mesa creek, Lagarian creek, Arayat creek, Estero de Valencia and Buwaya creek.

The engineering department also coordinated with the Metro Manila Development Authority and the Department of Public Works and Highways for river improvement activities.

Earlier, Mayor Belmonte urged the departments of engineering and the environmental protection and waste management to review the city’s current waterways and drainage clean-up program to enable the city government to come up with the appropriate solution to its flooding problem. – Perseus Echeminada