DPWH, MMDA scramble to finish delayed World Bank-funded Metro Manila flood control project

The Philippines is rushing to complete a delayed World Bank-funded flood control project covering Metro Manila before the loan financing ends next year.

- BY BEN ARNOLD DE VERA

In a Nov. 5 implementation status and results report for the Metro Manila Flood Management Project, the World Bank said that disbursements of the loan it approved back in 2017 had already reached 62.36 percent to date, or $115.33 million out of the reduced financing amounting to $184.94 million.

As such, $69.61 million in World Bank financing still needs to be spent before the extended closing date of Nov. 30, 2026.

The World Bank said that project implementation has so far "[achieved] 1,540 hectares (ha) out of a target of 2,673 ha of land that are free of water within 24 hours after a major rainfall," which will protect 675,455 Metro Manila residents from floods-more than half of the targeted total of over 1.056 million.

"An additional 59 cubic meters per second of pumping capacity has been achieved and a total of 10 kilometers (km) of waterways have been cleaned. Of the 553 total projectaffected households, 475 have been relocated as of end-October 2025," the World Bank said.