Marilyn Cahatol

Congressman Wes Gatchalian speaks in behalf of his brother, Senator Win Gatchalian during the proclamation rally of presidential aspirant, Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson and his running-mate, Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III at the Imus City Grandstand in Cavite on February 8, 2022. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Paige Javier

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — As Congress looks into allegedly anomalous flood control projects in various parts of the country, Valenzuela City Mayor Wes Gatchalian said there are no ghost, or non-existent, projects in his area.  </p><p>In a flood control resilience initiatives summit organized by the Valenzuela City government, Gatchalian said they will make sure projects in the city use quality materials.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/20/lacson-details-corruption-in-flood-control-projects-1924">Lacson details corruption in flood control projects</a></div><p>&quot;I can say na lahat po ng flood control projects natin, sama na po yung pumping stations... Lahat po ay wala naman po ang anomalya. Lahat po ay gawa, lahat po ay fully operational,&quot; Gatchalian added.</p><p>(I can say that all the flood control projects in the city, even the pumping stations, are not marred by anomalies. All projects were completed and are fully operational)</p><p>The local chief executive said they do not have jurisdiction over the bidding or selection of contractors of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) projects.</p><p>&quot;Kami ho dito ay we try our best to find solutions. Nagtutulong-tulong ho kami, wine-welcome ko po ang tulong ng national agencies natin, private sector, dahil sa mga ganitong panahon. Para sa akin po, opinyon ko lang na hindi ho ito ang panahon na magturuan, kung hindi ho panahon po ang magtulungan tao,&quot; Gatchalian shared.</p><p>&quot;Ang LGU mismo ang nag-takeover sa management. Kahit ito po ay project ng MMDA (Metropolitan Manila Development Authority) or DPWH, tulong-tulong kami dito sa Valenzuela. LGU po ang gumagastos sa maintenance, sa manpower, sa crudo ng gen set. At dito naman po ay very transparent,&quot; he added.</p><p>Gatchalian said the city has alos started cracking down on buildings being constructed along waterways in the city.  </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/22/top-provinces-in-terms-of-project-cost-count-based-on-the-sumbong-ng-pangulo-website-2150">Top provinces in terms of project cost, count based on the Sumbong ng Pangulo website</a></div><p>&quot;Sinimulan po natin i-demolish yan. Alam niyo po meron naman tayong ordinansa, meron naman tayong rules pero ngayon lalo natin palakasin, maging stricter,&quot; he said.</p><p>(We are starting to demolish them. You know there are ordinances and rules against building along waterways, we just need to strengthen them and be more strict in implementation)</p><p>During the forum, Gatchalian presented the city&#x27;s flood control resilience initiatives, including cleaning up priority creeks, desilting and dredging them, and making them wider.</p><p>In the long-term, Gatchalian said they are upgrading nine of the current 28 pumping stations to high-capacity ones to address flooding from high tide.</p><p>Gatchalian also highlighted the &quot;Panatag Water Catchment&quot; in Barangay Dalandanan along MacArthur Highway, inspired by Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, Singapore and the Netherlands.  </p><p>&quot;Through the initiative po ng DOTR (Department of Transportation) sa aming pakikipagtulungan kay Secretary Vince Dizon, ang DOTR  ay may lupain po sa ilalim po ng North–South Commuter Railway (NSCR).</p><p>&quot;At hiningi po natin yan para po magtayo tayo ng higit na 2-3 story down na catchment basin at ang haba po one kilometer. Ang width po ay almost around six meters in width,&quot; he said.</p><p>Gatchalian also tapped technology like artificial intelligence to help monitor flood in the city through the Advance Telemetry Management ang Observation System (ATMOS). The monitoring system uses rain gauges, water level sensors, automatic weather stations and IP cameras connected to a network.  </p><p>The local chief executive presented a proposed ordinance that seeks to mandate all national government agencies to &#x27;actively coordinate&#x27; with the city government for planning, implementation, repair and maintenance of all infrastructure projects.</p><p>He expects the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to approve the ordinance soon.</p><p>Gatchalian said the city has a flood advisory council, where he tapped UP Resilience Institute (UPRI) Executive Director Mahar Lagmay for his expertise.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/weather-traffic/2025/7/22/nature-based-solutions-needed-to-address-flooding-resilience-expert-1611">Nature-based solutions needed to address flooding: resilience expert</a></div><p>The city also signed a memorandum of agreement with the UPRI for the formulation of an urban drainage master plan to update the current one.</p><p>Valenzuela has been among those experiencing flooding in Metro Manila in the past due to heavy rains and monsoons.  </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WNhg_DuSXg8?si=VJkUirmdMjWZ3UQ3" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>As Congress looks into the alleged anomalous flood control projects in various parts of the country, Valenzuela City Mayor Wes Gatchalian said there are no ghost projects in his area.</p>

As Congress looks into the alleged anomalous flood control projects in various parts of the country, Valenzuela City Mayor Wes Gatchalian said there are no ghost projects in his area.

Gatchalian: No ghost flood projects in Valenzuela

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Gatchalian: No ghost flood projects in Valenzuela

Paige Javier,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 23, 2025 03:45 PM PHT

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Flood Control Projects

Valenzuela

Wes Gatchalian

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