P774-M TONDO PUMPING STATION, ISALI SA FLOOD CONTROL PROBE — CONGRESSMAN VALERIANO

BATAY sa atas ni President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. na imbestigasyon sa flood control projects, hiniling ni Manila Congressman Rolan Valeriano (2nd district) na isama ang P774-million Sunog Apog Pumping Station project sa Tondo.

Anang Congressman, isang ‘white elephant’ ang proyekto dahil hindi ito napagana muna lang matapos noong 2018 sa ilalim ni dating Congressman Carlo Lopez.

Nang manalo bilang Congressman taong 2019, agad umanong lumiham si Valeriano sa Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) upang paganahin na ang nasabing pumping station para mapakinabangan ng mga taga-Tondo.

Ang naturang pumping station project ay inumpisahan ng January 2018 at nakumpleto October 2020 sa halagang P774,128,000 ngunit hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin nagagamit dahil sa technical issues, ani Valeriano.

Ang mga liham ni Valeriano sa DPWH, na may acknowledgement receipts at naka-file sa kanyang tanggapan, ay sinuportahan ng Manila City Council nang magpasa ito ng Resolution 399 noong September 5, 2023 upang mag-follow up din sa DPWH.

“In my district, the areas of Hermosa, Gagalangin and Juan Luna, among others, were submerged in knee-deep floodwaters during the recent typhoons, adversely affecting the lives and properties of Tondo residents and businessmen,” ani Valeriano.

“I know the problem by heart because unlike other politicians in the city who actually live in posh areas outside of Manila, I am not only a homegrown Manila resident but actually never left my old home in the second district of Tondo,” dagdag pa nito.

Iniakda ni Councilor Numero Lim ng 2nd district, ang Resolution 399 ay nananawagan kay DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan na bigyan ng dagliang aksyon ang ‘non-functional Sunog Apog Pumping Station’ sa Hermosa Street, dahil sa bahang dala sa mga nakapalibot na komunidad.

“This pumping station, instead of providing benefits, has posed more harm to the communities around due to its open floodgate, causing backflows of estuary water and resulting in unexpected floods even during dry season,” dagdag pa nito.

“Prior to the construction of the Sunog Apog Pumping Station by the DPWH -National Capital Region (NCR), an existing and efficiently functioning old pumping station ensured that the roads around Hermosa and R. Papa Streets as well as nearby areas remain flood-free. Since the inception of the Sunog Apog Pumping Station, areas previously untouched by floods now experience deep flooding, endangering the lives and properties of the constituents,” saad pa ng resolution.

Binatikos naman ni Rep. Valeriano ang pagsisikap umano ng mga kalaban sa pulitika na iligaw ang mga taga-Tondo sa paniniwalang siya ang nasa likod ng walang silbing pumping staion gayung si Lopez ang may proyekto nito.

Ang Resolution 399 ay co-authored ng lahat ng Konsehal, kasama na rin ang mga kalaunan ay naging kalaban na sa pulitika ni Valeriano at mga kapartido niya. (JERRY TAN)