Speaking at the first-ever Valenzuela International Progress Summit and Industry Awarding Ceremony this morning, Mayor Wes said these new initiatives were conceptualized in response to widespread flooding caused by days of heavy rainfall from the southwest monsoon and typhoons "Crising", "Dante", and "Emong" last week.

"Rains and floods have brought sufferings to our city and alam ko, naging mabigat ito sa ating mga industries and to every Valenzuelaño," Mayor Wes told business owners and industry players in the Summit. "This is why we have come up with solutions to address our problem in flooding."

Foremost in these new initiatives is the construction of nine additional pumping stations to be strategically located in critical areas in the city, the Valenzuela Mayor bared.

Mayor WES pointed out that the 30 existing pumping stations in the city have proven to be inefficient in easing the flooding brought by the incessant heavy rains last week.

"Out of 33 barangays, first time nangyari ito, 80 percent nalubog sa baha," Mayor Wes lamented.

Also approved for funding by the recently-formed Flood Advisory Committee is the construction of Dalandanan Water Catchment Basin in Barangay Dalandanan, which will be the first ever water catchment facility to be built in Valenzuela, according to Mayor Wes.

The 780-liner meter Water Catchment Basin with a length of two kilometers and a depth of 5.6 meters x 3 meters will significantly mitigate flooding along McArthur Highway by capturing or storing floodwaters during a heavy rainfall, the Valenzuela mayor pointed out.

*"Why built this at McArthur Highway? It is because we need to reopen our major thoroughfares within one to two days after heavy rains to facilitate the movement of goods and people, and of course, mabalik agad sa normal ang operations ng mga business establishments, and for people to go back to work,"* Mayor Wes explained.

In the next couple of years, he added the city government will also focus on dredging, desilting, and cleaning of drainages and waterways in Valenzuela that easily clog up during heavy rains, causing floods.

Furthermore, Mayor Wes said the city government will also partner with NLEX in a proposed flood control project through a public-private partnership agreement, the details of which are still being finalized.

As a long-term solution, Mayor Wes also revealed that the city government will tap the services of third-party experts in crafting a new Urban Planning Drainage Master Plan for Valenzuela City.

He pointed out that the current drainage master plan of Valenzuela which was formulated 10-20 years ago is already outdated due and can no longer cope with the effects of rapid urbanization, increasing population, and climate change.

"Next week, I will be meeting with UP (University of the Philippines) Resilience Institute to discuss this new drainage master plan," Mayor Wes said.

The UP Resilience Institute was one of the agencies that crafted Project NOAH or the Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazard that has been the country's primary disaster risk reduction and management plan for years.

"As we acknowledge that flooding is a regional and systematic issue that crosses cities' boundaries that requires multi-sectoral and inter-LGU solutions, we as a city remain committed to doing our part by making meaningful local improvements, strengthening our climate resilience, and upgrading our drainage systems and infrastructures," Mayor Wes stressed. #