MMDA earmarks ₱3.4-B for flood control in 2027

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is allocating nearly 52% of its proposed ₱6.56-billion budget for 2027 to flood control and sewerage management as the agency steps up efforts to improve Metro Manila’s defenses against flooding.

MMDA Chairperson Romando Artes presented the proposed ₱3.4-billion allocation during a Senate Committee on Finance hearing on Thursday, with funding intended for drainage improvements, pumping station operations and other flood mitigation infrastructure.

Of the total, ₱2.51 billion is earmarked for capital expenditures, ₱813.63 million for maintenance and operating expenses, and ₱82.22 million for personnel services.

Despite the emphasis on flood prevention, the proposed budget is ₱222 million lower than the agency’s ₱6.78-billion allocation under the 2026 General Appropriations Act.

Senator JV Ejercito, who chairs the Senate finance committee, raised concerns over heavily silted rivers and tributaries in Metro Manila and asked whether additional funding would be necessary for dredging operations.

The proposed spending comes as the government pursues the rehabilitation and upgrading of pumping stations to improve the metropolis’ capacity to manage intense rainfall. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier announced plans to install or upgrade 13 pumping stations, with operations targeted by late 2026 or early 2027.

The MMDA is also developing rainwater catchment facilities to temporarily store excess runoff and reduce pressure on drainage networks. Artes previously said the agency had identified 39 potential sites following technical studies and consultations with local governments.

Five priority rainwater impounding projects in Quezon City and Manila have also been identified, with a combined proposed storage capacity of 107,600 cubic meters. Estimated to cost ₱4.05 billion, these projects are being considered for separate funding through the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund.

Artes acknowledged that infrastructure improvements cannot guarantee a flood-free Metro Manila, particularly as extreme rainfall events become more frequent.

Aside from flood control, the MMDA’s proposed 2027 budget includes ₱1.99 billion for solid waste disposal and management, ₱866.03 million for traffic and transport management, ₱180.57 million for road maintenance and ₱119.21 million for the Pasig River Ferry Service.

The proposed allocation places flood mitigation at the center of the agency’s spending priorities as Metro Manila continues to face recurring flooding and drainage challenges.