Manila:More than half of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority's (MMDA) proposed PHP6.56 billion budget for 2027 is set to be allocated to flood control and sewerage management. This allocation makes flood mitigation the agency's largest spending priority, despite an overall reduction in its funding.
According to Philippines News Agency, during a Senate Committee on Finance hearing, MMDA Chairperson Romando Artes presented a PHP3.4 billion allocation for flood control. This accounts for nearly 52 percent of the agency's proposed budget. The allocation includes PHP2.51 billion for capital expenditures, PHP813.63 million for maintenance and operating expenses, and PHP82.22 million for personnel services.
The funding is intended to support flood mitigation operations, such as the maintenance and improvement of drainage systems, pumping stations, and related infrastructure across Metro Manila. The proposed budget is PHP222 million less than the previous allocation under the 2026 General Appropriations Act.
Senator JV Ejercito, chair of the finance committee, expressed concerns about heavily silted rivers and tributaries in Metro Manila, questioning the need for additional funding for dredging operations. In addition to flood control, the agency proposes PHP1.99 billion for solid waste disposal and management, PHP866.03 million for traffic and transport management, PHP180.57 million for road maintenance, and PHP119.21 million for the Pasig River Ferry Service.
These spending priorities align with the government's plans to rehabilitate and upgrade pumping stations to enhance Metro Manila's capacity to handle intense rainfall. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. announced plans to install or upgrade 13 pumping stations by late 2026 or early 2027. The MMDA is also developing a network of rainwater catchment facilities to manage excess rainfall.
In a recent briefing, Artes revealed that 39 potential sites for these facilities have been identified, following technical studies and local government consultations. Artes emphasized that while infrastructure improvements are crucial, they cannot guarantee a flood-free Metro Manila, especially as extreme rainfall events become more frequent.
The agency has identified five priority rainwater impounding projects in Quezon City and Manila with a combined proposed storage capacity of 107,600 cubic meters. These facilities, estimated to cost PHP4.05 billion, are being considered for funding under the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund's rehabilitation and reconstruction assistance program. The structures aim to temporarily capture stormwater, gradually releasing it to alleviate pressure on drainage networks and reduce flooding in nearby communities.
