Ched Rick Gatchalian

Residents try to move to safer ground as floodwaters rise in Barangay Navotas East, Navotas City, on July 24, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

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DPWH NCR denies existence of ‘ghost’ flood control projects in NCR

Agatha Gregorio

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) National Capital Region (NCR) Assistant Regional Director Montrexis Tamayo said he does not know of any “ghost” flood control projects in the region.</p><p>At a House Committee on Metro Manila Development meeting on Wednesday, September 3, Committee Chairperson Dean Asistio asked Tamayo and all district engineers present if there had been any “ghost”, or non-existent, projects in the capital</p><p>Tamayo said there has never been a case where a contractor was paid the full amount before the project was finished.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/26/200-flood-control-projects-in-manila-have-no-permits-isko-moreno-1905">200 flood control projects in Manila have no permits: Isko Moreno</a></div><p>“As far as I know po, wala pong &#x27;ghost&#x27; project ang NCR (As far as I know, there are no &#x27;ghost&#x27; projects in NCR),” Tamayo responded.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>NCR DRAINAGE MASTER PLAN TO TAKE 1-2 YEARS</strong></div><p>The creation of the drainage master plan for Metro Manila will likely take around one to two years, Tamayo also said. </p><p>He added the feasibility study for this takes a minimum of six months, but the period reaches years in some cases depending on the scope of the project.</p><p>“Pero sa ngayon naman, nakasimula naman na kami. May nakuha na kaming data from MMDA, from LGUs, although hindi pa complete pero malaking tulong na rin,&quot; he said.</p><p>(We have already started on it. We already have some data from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, from local government units. Although we don&#x27;t have the complete data, that is a big help)</p><p>He added he is &quot;positive&quot; that progress on the plan will be helped along by council and committee meetings where they can ask other agencies and LGUs for their data.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/23/isko-moreno-asks-senate-to-include-manila-s-flood-control-projects-in-probes-1905"><strong>Isko Moreno asks Senate to include Manila&#x27;s flood control projects in probes</strong></a></div><p>Construction has begun for some “critical” areas, and DPWH NCR has no plans of undoing what has been started once the master plan has been finished</p><p>Instead, existing structures could be “improved” or remodeled as needed.</p><p>“Pangit naman kung gigibain din natin siya pagka natapos ‘yung master plan. So mas maganda na i-incorporate mo ‘yung existing structure sa master plan at tingnan natin ang effectivity niya– kung kailangan pa siyang i-improve or kailangan pa siyang i-remodel or i-replan.</p><p>(It would not be good to demolish a project once the master plan is finished. It would be better to incorprorate the existing structure in the master plan and see if it needs improvement or remodeling or replanning)</p><p>Tamayo added they are at the data collection stage for the creation of the plan.</p><div> </div><div><strong>DPWH NCR ADMITS TO LAPSES IN LGU COORDINATION</strong></div><p>Tamayo also admitted to lapses in coordinating with local government units (LGU) regarding flood control initiatives, adding the agency failed to obtain clearance for some projects.</p><p>He said district engineers has confirmed that some had written to LGUs about the projects but had failed to get clearances for some of them.</p><p>“The problem is nagpatuloy ‘yung construction,” Tamayo said.</p><p>(The problem is that construction continued)</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/15/map-flood-control-projects-in-metro-manila-2203"><strong>MAP: Flood control projects in Metro Manila</strong></a></div><p>But a memorandum has been released to all district offices on proper LGU coordination as Tamayo said issues like this have caused delays.</p><p>The issue stemmed from a question posed by Quezon City 6th District Rep. Ma. Victoria Co-Pilar about reports of Mayor Joy Belmonte saying the DPWH did not coordinate with the LGU on 141 flood control projects.</p><p>Tamayo later said he had met with Belmonte to discuss the matter.</p><p>According to the DPWH NCR official, the most common causes of delays for flood control projects are right-of-way issues, working permits, obstruction of utilities, and pending completion of phases.</p><p>There are 450 ongoing flood control programs under DPWH NCR.</p><div> </div><div><strong>MMDA IDENTIFIES AREAS FOR RAIN CATCHMENT FACILITIES</strong></div><p>The MMDA meanwhile said it had identified 10 areas in Quezon City and some in Manila for rain catchment facilities.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/28/rain-catchment-sa-ust-solusyon-sa-baha-0837"><strong>Rain catchment sa UST, solusyon sa baha?</strong></a></div><p>MMDA Chairman Don Artes said these are meant to prevent flash floods by capturing and collecting rain water.</p><p>He said the MMDA is looking at putting up a rain catchment facility on land in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City that would be able to hold 36,000 cubic meters of flood water.</p><p>Artes added, he has met with Quezon City and Manila LGUs regarding the initiative.</p><p>Among locations identified for the rain catchment facility is Amoranto Stadium, which Artes had visited with Belmonte, as well as Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in Manila.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/9/2/ph-economy-lost-over-p100-b-to-ghost-flood-control-projects-from-2023-2025-recto-1859"><strong>PH economy lost over P100-B to &#x27;ghost&#x27; flood control projects from 2023-2025: Recto</strong></a></div>

<p>Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) National Capital Region (NCR) Assistant Regional Director Montrexis Tamayo said he does not know of any “ghost” flood control projects in the region.</p>

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) National Capital Region (NCR) Assistant Regional Director Montrexis Tamayo said he does not know of any “ghost” flood control projects in the region.

DPWH NCR: No ‘ghost’ flood control projects in Metro Manila

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DPWH NCR: No ‘ghost’ flood control projects in Metro Manila

Agatha Gregorio,

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 03, 2025 05:35 PM PHT

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Department of Public Works and Highways

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Montrexis Tamayo

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