Quezon City working with DOTr, MMDA to solve floods

MANILA, Philippines — Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte yesterday expressed gratitude to Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon for his swift and proactive response to concerns she raised due to flooding in some parts of the city.

In a statement, Belmonte said the city’s engineering department is working with the Department of Transportation, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and the Metro Rail Transit Line (MRT-7) management “to sustain the clearing operations and implement long-term solutions to construction-related obstructions.”

“We also commend the MRT-7 management for their immediate action in clearing construction sites and removing debris that had been obstructing the flow of rainwater in drainage systems,” she said.

Belmonte earlier flagged national government projects, specifically the MRT-7, as a possible cause of floods in some parts of the city.

San Miguel Corp. Infrastructure, which oversees the construction of the MRT-7, denied that the project caused the flooding along Commonwealth Avenue.

Belmonte stressed that a “unified approach is critical in addressing the root causes of flooding and in safeguarding the well-being of our communities.”

“We thank all partners involved for demonstrating that through collaboration, we can respond effectively to urgent challenges and deliver results for our constituents,” she said.

Quezon City has declared a state of calamity to speed up its response to communities affected by floods. 

Belmonte clarified that the declaration does not imply a rise in casualties or widespread infrastructure damage.

“Our roads are passable. We have no more floods,” she told One PH yesterday.

Belmonte said the city’s quick response fund of over P485 million would be used to purchase new garbage trucks, carry out infrastructure repairs and buy medicines to curb the increasing number of evacuees getting ill.  – EJ Macababbad