DPWH to take advantage of Holy Week break by expediting work on Manila flood control projects

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will take advantage of the upcoming Holy Week break to rush its various flood control projects "that will minimize flooding around the vicinity of the Manila City Hall." Starting on Holy Wednesday, April 12, the total road closure of the northbound section of Bonifacio Drive corner P. Burgos Street in Port Area, Manila, will be implemented for the installation of a reinforced concrete box culvert (RCBC). "This Lenten Break, when traffic is light at the Metropolis, we will install two rows of 27-lineal meter long, 60 inches diameter RCBC," said DPWH-NCR Director Melvin B. Navarro. "These are big drainage structures that can handle huge amount of floodwater in the low-lying areas, in this case the vicinity of Manila City Hall." The road closure will be lifted on April 17 when the boxes have been installed after using one -day curing concrete. The same activity will be on the southbound section on three consecutive weekends from April 22 to May 9, with the process beginning every Saturday at 7am and ending on Tuesday at 8am. Two vehicular lanes are expected to be affected while the activity is ongoing. According to Navarro, early coordination has been made with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and utility companies such as Meralco and Maynilad to ensure smooth implementation of the project. The flood-control structure reportedly costs P62.7 million and involves the construction of a 630-lineal meter RCBC and is expected to be completed by July 2017.