MANILA, Philippines – Aside from its shoe industry, Marikina City has been known for its recurring flood problem. To address this persistent issue, local candidates are proposing major flood control projects, including the construction of a dam in Wawa and a water retention facility.
Marikina 2nd District Representative Stella Quimbo, a mayoral candidate, is pushing for the construction of multiple dams in Wawa, along with a water retention facility.
“The revised plan now consists of building three dams in roughly the same area, along with a water retention facility,” Quimbo said on Sunday, Februay 9, during Rappler’s “Kape, Kandidato, Komunidad” election forum at Rustic Mornings by Isabelo Garden.
A feasibility study is expected to be completed by August 2025, with the project estimated to cost P150 billion. Quimbo said that funding would require a loan, and the project is targeted for completion by 2032.
However, financing such a large-scale project could be a challenge. According to a 2023 report from the Bureau of Local Government Finance, Marikina already has an outstanding debt of P3.6 billion.
Senator Koko Pimentel, who is running for Marikina 1st District representative, has also expressed support for the Wawa Dam project. He described Marikina’s flood problem as the “first domino piece” in a chain reaction that discourages investment in the city.
He noted that business process outsourcing (BPO) companies are hesitant to establish operations in Marikina due to its persistent flooding issues.
Quimbo’s running mate, former Marikina mayor Del de Guzman, also backs the construction of a water impounding facility as part of broader flood mitigation efforts.
Candidates are also pushing for additional flood control measures. Quimbo said that there is an ongoing construction of pumping stations and the modernization of Marikina’s drainage system.
Last July 2024, the Philippine government inagurated the upper Wawa Dam.
Inter-LGU approach
Candidates also recognize that flooding is not just Marikina’s problem but a regional issue that requires cooperation from neighboring towns.
Marikina serves as a catch basin for floodwaters coming from Antipolo, San Mateo, and Montalban, making it highly vulnerable to flooding.
Quimbo’s husband Miro, who is seeking a House comeback as 2nd District representative, pointed out that much of the garbage clogging Marikina’s drainage systems comes from nearby municipalities. However, some of these areas are not part of the Metro Manila Council, making coordination more difficult. To address this, he pledged to forge alliances with these neighboring towns.
During budget deliberations for the Department of Environment and the Department of Public Works and Highways, Pimentel stressed that illegal logging in neighboring areas worsens Marikina’s flooding. He called for stricter enforcement against deforestation.
“The bottom line is that flooding is not just a Marikina problem — it’s a Metro Manila problem,” Pimentel said.
Following Tropical Storm Ondoy in 2009, an “Alliance of Seven” was formed among cities and municipalities affected by severe flooding. The group includes Marikina, Pasig, and Quezon City in Metro Manila, along with Antipolo, Cainta, San Mateo, and Rodriguez in Rizal.
Marikina 1st District Representative Maan Teodoro, who is running for mayor, declined Rappler’s invitation to join the forum.
Her husband, Marikina Mayor Marcy Teodoro, was disqualified last December from running for Marikina 1st District congressman after the Commission on Elections’ 1st Division found that he misrepresented his place of residence. The decision is under appeal.
Rappler reached out to Congresswoman Maan’s staff for her plans to address flooding in Marikina but has not received a response as of writing. A request for comment was also sent to Mayor Marcy, who has yet to reply. This story will be updated once they respond. – Rappler.com