Jaehwa Bernardo

DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon, together with Marikina officials and city engineers, conducts an inspection of ongoing flood control projects along the Marikina River on Wednesday, March 4. Authorities are currently assessing infrastructure aimed at strengthening drainage systems, improving riverbank protection, and mitigating flooding in vulnerable communities, especially during the rainy season. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

MARIKINA FLOOD CONTROL

Andrea Taguines

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177269917952020260304-dpwh-marilkina-river-inspection-MT6.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon, together with Marikina officials and city engineers, conducts an inspection of ongoing flood control projects along the Marikina River on Wednesday, March 4. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA - Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon on Wednesday committed to fast track the construction and expansion of drainage systems in Marikina City ahead of the rainy season.</p><p>Dizon said that while the capacity of the Marikina River has been increased through continuous dredging and the clearing of illegal structures, flooding persists because many in-city drainage lines are not properly linked to the river, which serves as the main outfall.</p><p>Although the DPWH has tried to address this problem in the past, Dizon said these projects get delayed due to bad planning and piecemeal budgeting, like what happened along Sumulong Highway.</p><p>Back in 2022, the DPWH already started installing larger drainage pipes that are 3.5 meters in diameter. But four years later, it’s still unfinished.</p><p>“Meron pang natitirang mga 500 meters para sana mag-connect na sa Marikina River… Ibig sabihin, malaki nga yung dadaluyan ng tubig doon sa portion na napalitan na, pero pagdating doon sa portion na hindi pa tapos, maliliit, so mag-iimbudo nanaman,” said Dizon during an inspection, where he was joined by Mayor Maan Teodoro and her husband Marikina 1st District Rep. Marcelino Teodoro.</p><p>Dizon has ordered the district engineer to finish the fourth phase of the drainage expansion by June. He also hopes to be able to scrounge up P175 million from the agency’s savings in 2025 to complete the whole project by the end of the year.</p><p>“Bumaba na yun from the P250 million (initial cost) dahil nagbaba tayo ng presyo ng materyales… Ang commitment ko na lang kina Mayor, kila Congressman, maghahanap ako ng pondo para tuloy tuloy na ang construction,” he said.</p><p>Dizon also visited several other flood control projects such as the dike in Barangay Malanday, which was damaged due to a Manila Water sewer pipe-laying project.</p><p>He has instructed the water concessionaire to repair the damaged segment as soon as possible.</p><p>“Because that is in your agreement, that any damage shall be restored by Manila Water to its original condition,” he told a Manila Water representative.</p><p>Dizon has also asked engineers from the DPWH Central Office to check why there are other gaps in the revetment project which he spotted during the inspection.</p><p>Mayor Maan Teodoro welcomed the DPWH Chief’s hands-on response and willingness to coordinate with the local government unit, which she said has always been one of the biggest hurdles in getting things done before.</p><p>“Gusto din natin na pagdating ng tag-ulan hindi na maging problema, maging panatag na po tayo,” she said.</p><div><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177269919613820260304-dpwh-marilkina-river-inspection-MT13.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>BALANTI CREEK REHABILITATION</strong></div><p>Afterwards, Dizon met with Marikina 2nd District Rep. Miro Quimbo along the Balanti Creek which is supposedly due for rehabilitation.</p><p>“Hindi kasi katawad-tawad yung walang laman ang ilog, pero nagbabaha dito. Dapat wala,” said Quimbo.</p><p>Dizon said because of the aging infrastructure, the water from the creek tends to leak to the roads and to residential areas.</p><p>The secretary and the lawmaker assured that this is not the same as the P100 million Balanti Creek project earlier scrapped from the DPWH’s 2026 budget due to double funding.</p><p>“May stationing naman na tayo so imposible nang mauulit, wala nang mag-ooverlap. Kaya binabantayan ko yung DE (district engineer) dito e,” said Dizon.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RIGHT-OF-WAY ISSUES</strong></div><p>Dizon also vowed to personally speak to the family of famous film producer Lily Monteverde to seek right-of-way clearance to continue building Phase 5 of the Pasig-Marikina River Channel Improvement Project, which would run along her property.</p><p>According to the DPWH, Monteverde vehemently objected to the project in 2018, leading to legal proceedings.</p><p>But Dizon pointed out that a part of her land already encroaches along the river, which should be a no-build zone.</p><p>“For all intents, Mother Lily cannot build anything here. You cannot, and you cannot sell this because no one will buy this anyway,” he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>UPSTREAM INTERVENTION</strong></div><p>Apart from finished long-stalled projects in Marikina, Dizon also stressed the importance of addressing the flooding issue from upstream.</p><p>The government is currently planning to build retention basins in the mountains of Rizal, but in the meantime, Dizon wants to sign an agreement with Prime Infra, in a bid to utilize the Upper Wawa Dam.</p><p>The Upper Wawa Dam in Rodriguez, Rizal, despite being built primarily for water storage and supply purposes, contributed in minimizing water runoff to Metro Manila during Typhoon Carina in 2024.</p><p>“Ang problema natin doon, ang Wawa, hindi siya dapat empty at sumalo ng tubig. Ang purpose ng Wawa is mag-provide ng tubig para sa mga residente ng Metro Manila. So ang Memorandum of Agreement kailangan ma-finalize na,” said Dizon.</p><p>“Pagka may parating na bagyo, uutusan ng gobyerno ang Wawa, ang Manila Water, na magbaba ng tubig, magrelease paunti-unti. Para may sasalo ng tubig sa bundok at hindi bigla na lang babagsak dito sa Marikina River at sa Pasig River,” he added.</p>

<p>Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon has committed to fast track the construction and expansion of drainage systems in Marikina City ahead of the rainy season.</p>

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon has committed to fast track the construction and expansion of drainage systems in Marikina City ahead of the rainy season.

Dizon vows to fast track solutions for Marikina’s drainage woes

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Dizon vows to fast track solutions for Marikina’s drainage woes

Andrea Taguines,

ABS-CBN News

Published Mar 05, 2026 04:33 PM PHT

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