Marcos inspects damaged Navotas navigational gate

President Marcos directed the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to hasten the repair of the Tangos-Tanza navigational gate in Navotas to prevent excessive flooding similar to what happened the past few days.

- ALEXIS ROMERO, EJ Macababbad

The President visited the city yesterday to check on the flood situation, as well as the condition of displaced residents staying in a school as a temporary shelter.

The navigational gate has been under maintenance since last year, after a barge forced its way through even during low tide.

According to Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan, the repair works should be finished by Aug. 8. It should have been completed last July 20, if not for the recent heavy rains, he added.

"The President directed us a while ago to speed up the additional protection works for the retaining walls in the area near Manila Bay so that once they are completed, the high tide, at least, would no longer enter," Bonoan told reporters in an interview.

He gave assurance that funding for the repair of the gate is available until next year.

Michael Doce, chief of the Pumping| Station and Flood Gates Division of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Flood Control and Sewerage Management Office, noted that a pumping station controls the entry of seawater from Manila Bay and minimizes flood levels during high tide.