The Quezon City government revealed today that it has approved only two out of 254 Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) flood-control projects monitored between 2021 and 2025—citing significant discrepancies and planning oversights.
During a press briefing, Mayor Joy Belmonte disclosed that, despite a combined projected cost of approximately ₱14 billion, only two projects—both pumping stations near the border of Barangays Santa Cruz and Mariblo—received local government approval. Even so, the DPWH proceeded with implementation without securing concurrence from the city planning authorities.
According to Mark Dale Perral, head of the Quezon City Engineering Department, these pump stations were not aligned with the city’s drainage master plan, and therefore “not approved.” He emphasized that in a non-coastal, inland city like Quezon City, pumping water from one location to another simply displaces floodwater, rather than resolving the problem. Instead, Perral asserted that the suitable solutions lie in the construction of detention and retention basins.
City officials also raised concerns about the nature of many DPWH projects, noting recurring issues: vague or duplicative project titles, identical approved budgets across different locations (suggesting formulaic templates), and declarations of completion — despite visible ongoing construction. Remarkably, one project was split into 66 separate phases without clear justification.
When GMA News contacted DPWH’s National Capital Region (NCR) office for comment, they declined to provide a statement. The agency said it was still coordinating with its district offices in Quezon City to verify the information and would issue updates once available.
In response, the Quezon City government said it will collaborate with the University of the Philippines Resilience Institute to conduct a comprehensive review of projects flagged as ineffective or potentially harmful to flood resilience efforts. Mayor Belmonte stressed their intent “to hold accountable those responsible for anomalies” and pledged full cooperation with any investigations initiated by agencies appointed by the President.
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