Isko Moreno faults non-functional pumping stations, blames DPWH

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno expressed frustration over non-functional pumping stations during a meeting streamed on his Facebook page on Monday.

Moreno instructed the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to explain why newly installed pumping stations are not functioning properly.

The MMDA Chairman Romando Artes clarified that the Sunog Apog pumping station, which Moreno criticized, is still under rehabilitation by DPWH and has yet to be turned over to MMDA.

Artes also provided updates on the ongoing repairs of a damaged navigational gate in Navotas City, another critical flood control infrastructure, noting delays due to microcracks found during inspection.

The Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) stated that faulty pumping stations contribute significantly to rapid flooding in the city as they fail to adequately drain water during heavy rains.

Resident meteorologist Emerson Gilmore Austria of MDRRMO highlighted that functional pumping stations could expedite drainage but often malfunction due to debris like plastic waste.

Mayor Moreno plans to report on these defective pumping stations to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., emphasizing the need for long-term solutions to Manila's persistent flooding issues.