To ensure the continued rehabilitation of the Marikina River Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary and Task Force Build Back Better (TF BBB) Chair Jim O. Sampulna on Wednesday, March 9, handed over to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) the remainder of TF BBB’s Marikina River rehabilitation to ensure its continuity even after President Rodrigo Roa Duterte's administration.
In a press release Sampulna pointed out that the move will mainstream TF BBB’s gains in the Marikina Restoration Project (MRP) through the DPWH-Unified Project Management Office-Flood Control Management Cluster (DPWH-UPMO-FCMC).
"But the objective of the activity remains the same — to address the issue of perennial flooding in Marikina, Pasig, and Quezon City," Sampulna said,
stressing that TF BBB’s gains in its objective for Marikina River are proven by improved conditions in the cities of Marikina and Pasig during intense rains last year.
Likewise the transfer allows for the second segment of Phase 2 of TF BBB-Marikina River Dredging Project (TMRDP) to be adopted under Phase 4 of DPWH’s Pasig-Marikina River Channel Improvement Project (DPWH-PMRCIP) in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
On the other hand TF BBB’s MRP-Phase 1 was completed in July 2021, or five months after it was launched in February, resulting in the widening of the Marikina River by about 9,060 square meters after 41,625 cubic meters were dredged from three sites or "chokepoints" along the Olandez sewage treatment plant, BF City, and SM Marikina riverbanks.
"This broadened the river to 90 to 100 meters and additional depth of two meters," Sampulna said.
Meanwhile, Marikina City Mayor Marcelino "Marcy" Teodoro said TF BBB’s efforts have greatly lessened the anxiety of Marikina residents during heavy rainfall, noting a great improvement in the lessening of floodings have been observed last year, especially in outlying areas along the Marikina River.
He added that the TF BBB has provided local officials with effective models for addressing the flooding problems in Marikina City.