Marcos Jr. to DPWH: Fix damaged Navotas gate causing floods

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos instructed the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to immediately come up with a remedy to the damaged navigational gate in Navotas that has been causing severe flooding in the city and nearby areas.

During a briefing yesterday on the effects of Typhoon Carina at the Presidential Security Command headquarters, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Romando Artes said the gate would be repaired within a month.

However, five barangays in Malabon and three barangays in Navotas would continue to experience floods even if there are no typhoons while the bridge is undergoing repair, the MMDA chief added.

Marcos then asked the DPWH whether something could be done to prevent floods while the repair is ongoing.

“What is our remedy? Maybe we can at least block (the water) or is there something we can do? At least as an emergency measure and then we can go back and repair it properly?” the President said.

“Maybe put sandbags or something. I don’t know. But we have to get an engineer to look at it and to tell us what we can do,” he added.

The gate, which was inspected by Marcos yesterday, was damaged in June after a barge forcefully entered the channel from the sea going to the shipyard.

Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan said the F. Manalo Bridge, which was hit by 13 barges and tugboats because of the strong current in Marikina River, would undergo reconstruction.

According to him, the bridge’s freeboard is too low and is not really designed for barges to pass through.

“We’re going to reconstruct this bridge eventually. We have the funds for it, Mr. President. It’s just a matter of going through the design,” he said.

The bridge is temporarily closed while authorities are checking the damage it sustained.

“So, what we need to do there is to get an assessment as to whether or not we can use the bridge. That’s really the most important thing right now because what we’re trying to do is to... distribute whatever help, whatever assistance is required. But we have to know where that assistance is required,” Marcos said.

Artes said the MMDA has coordinated with the coast guard to determine how to remove the