TIMELINE: The Camanava flood control project

MANILA, Philippines – The flood control project for the cities of Caloocan, Malabon and Navotas (Camanava) was conceptualized in 1997 following the First Flood Summit conducted by Malacañang. 

The original timeline of the project was 84 months or 7 years. This does not include the period for the review of the feasilibility plan in 1998 and the conduct of the feasibility study itself from 1988-1990.

Based on its original deadline, the project was supposed to have been completed by 2007. But it was extended by another 28 months until 2009. The project has yet to be fully completed until now, however.

While some components of the project have yet to be finished, Malabon, Navotas and Caloocan continue to suffer from severe flooding as old structures also constructed by the Department of Public Works and Highways started to give way. 

Below is an infographic detailing the evolution of the project:

The flood control project design has 26 components:

• 5 pumping stations
• 10 flood control gates
• North Navotas Navigation Gate
• Bangkulasi main drainage facilities
• Marala river channel improvement
• Spine creek channel improvement
• Malabon River channel improvements
• Longos creek channel improvement
• Polder dike
• Drainage facilities in Bangkulasi
• Drainage facillties in Northern Catmon
• supply of equipment
• day works 

The P3-billion contract for the flood control project was awarded to Nishimatsu in 2003. The project was supposed to be completed in June 2007, but it was extended until September 2008.

In 2008, when the contract with Nishimatsu expired, only 88% – or 18 components – was completed due to right-of-way problems.

The 18 components include:

• Pumping Stations
• Floodgates
• Navotas Navigation Gate
• Bangkulasi Drainage Main (Navotas)
• Maralla River Channel Improvement

In February 2009, the DPWH awarded a contract for the remaining works to local contractor BMWAD Joint Venture. The contract is worth P996 million.

The remaining works include:

a. 2,200 meters of the polder dike along Pinagkabalian river

3,545 meters of polder dike along Kailugan river

b. Malabon River Channel improvement

c. 3,250 meters of the right bank

d. 3,645 meters of the left bank

As of October 2009, 94% of the project was completed.

In 2011, DPWH CAMANAVA flood control project director Macaria Bartolo said the project is 99.5% complete.

In 2012, however, the polder dike had to be raised by another meter (Its height is 12.9 meters) after it was overtopped at the height of the Habagat or southwest monsoon in August 2012.

Riprap has to also be constructed to make it sturdier.

Malabon also requested the following to DPWH:

a. the upgrade of the elevation of polder dike

b. Catmon creek rehabilitation

c. rehabilitation of riverwalls

d. construction of pumping station and floodgates

DPWH said the above will be included in the P351-billion Flood Management Master Plan for Metro Manila and Surrounding Areas. – Rappler.com