Final phase of Pasig-Marikina River Channel project begins

MANILA – The fourth and final stage of the Pasig-Marikina River Channel Improvement Project has started, the Japanese Embassy in Manila said Wednesday.

The Embassy said the civil works for the project’s phase 4 would further mitigate flooding due to the overflow of Pasig and Marikina Rivers.

It will increase the flood capacity of Pasig-Marikina River and address the downstream of Manggahan Floodway to Marikina Bridge with the construction of the Manggahan Control Gate Structure as well as two floodgates at the adjoining sections of Cainta and Taytay Rivers.

The project also includes non-structural measures such as information campaign and publicity, flood mitigation committee, flood hazard map, and environmental monitoring, all aimed to fully support the holistic disaster control approach of the Philippine government.

“Together, these measures are expected to protect communities near Pasig and Marikina River from flood damage caused by channel overflow,” the Embassy said.

The Pasig-Marikina River Channel Improvement Project is the flagship initiative of Tokyo and Manila’s disaster management cooperation.

The first phase covered the overall detailed design which was completed in March 2002, followed by Phase 2 covering Pasig River Channel improvement works from Delpan Bridge to Napindan Hydraulic Control Gate Structure and completed in May 2013.

Phase 3, meanwhile, covered the Lower Marikina Channel improvement works from Napindan Channel to downstream Manggahan Floodway, including additional dredging works that were completed in July 2020.

The entire program was funded by a loan agreement between the Philippine government through the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Japanese government through Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Gracing the groundbreaking ceremony in Barangay Mangahan, Pasig last November 16 were Japanese Ambassador Kazuhiko Koshikawa, DPWH Secretary Roger Mercado, JICA Chief Representative Eigo Azukizawa, and several government officials.