Singson: Camanava floodgate needs repair

MANILA, Philippines - Parts of northern Metro Manila will continue to experience floods unless the Caloocan-Malabon-Navotas-Valenzuela flood control project’s navigational floodgate is repaired, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Rogelio Singson said yesterday.

Singson said the navigational floodgate, considered the “heart and soul” of the Camanava flood control project, has not been functioning since February because of heavy siltation.

The gate, which is positioned at the mouth of the Navotas River, is supposed to be raised during high tide to prevent seawater from flooding low-lying communities. The gate is lowered during low tide.

“Unfortunately, the heart and soul of the project needs repair because it has been damaged since February,” Singson said.

They have already conducted underwater surveys to determine the cause of the problem. At first they thought a passing ship hit the gate, but it turned out that heavily siltation prevents the floodgate from being raised.

Singson said one possible solution is “to close the river for a month or two months to repair the navigational gate. So we are having consultations (with stakeholders) as to when would be the best time to close the Navotas River.”

He will send a team made up of DPWH officials and consultants to meet with the concerned groups and individuals. They would also have to take into consideration the effect of closing the gate to the shipbuilding and ship repair businesses in Navotas.

He estimated that the repairs on the structure would roughly cost P30 million.