MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) blames the garbage and the lack of discipline from residents for the massive floods in the country whenever there is a sudden downpour.
Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson said there are also those who intentionally place garbage in places “for some entrepreneurial ventures.”
“Definitely the garbage, the maintenance and the deliberate…pinapasakan ang mga inlets para tuluyang bumaha for some entrepreneurial ventures. Palagay ko yun, hindi na dapat payagan yun,” Singson said.
“Yang pagbabaha we can do only so much in terms of engineering intervention. A lot of it would require discipline, in terms of pagbabasura, in terms of maintaining our drainage,” he added.
The DPWH is now implementing the widening of drainage pipes, especially at the Araneta Avenue-Quezon Avenue area to direct the flow of water towards the creek. The project will be finished in 15 months.
"The assessment there is kaya pa nung creek to take in more water, hindi lang makalabas nang mabilis. So what we're looking at is [to] direct discharge on Araneta Avenue directly into the creek to increase the capacity para hindi na nabubulunan ang center drainage system,” he said.
The carrying capacity of circular drainage pipes in some areas is also so small, he said.
Singson said the DPWH will soon employ “rain water collection system” and “water retaining basins”.
Singson stressed: “Hindi pwedeng kami lang ang naglalagay ng flood control system and then the rest, they will expect that they will no longer encounter flooding. Hindi po ganyan ang solusyon riyan.” – from a report by Willard Cheng, ABS-CBN News