The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has started redesigning drainage inlets along major roads in Metro Manila to improve the flow of floodwater during heavy rains, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said.
Dizon said the project aims to address a long-standing problem where drainage systems have been widened but many road inlets remain too narrow, slowing the entry of rainwater.
He added that clogged inlets, often blocked by garbage, further worsen flooding.
The redesign has begun along C5 Road and Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA).
The DPWH also plans to expand the project within the year to flood-prone sections of Roxas Boulevard, España Boulevard, Taft Avenue, Commonwealth Avenue, and Quezon Avenue.
Dizon said the upgraded inlets will be made wider and fitted with trash traps designed to catch debris before it reaches underground drainage systems, helping maintain the free flow of water.
Although the 2026 national budget does not include a separate allocation for the project, Dizon said the DPWH will use existing road maintenance funds to finance the modifications.