The continuous dredging of the Marikina City river has proven effective in mitigating flooding in the Shoe Capital of the Philippines, Mayor Marcelino Teodoro said on a rainy Saturday.
"The dredging of the Marikina River is continuous. It's very effective because we're able to increase the water carrying capacity and we're able to improve on the velocity of the water current," Teodoro told this reporter.
"Flooding in low-lying areas like Barangays Tumana, Malanday, and Nangka during the past two typhoons "Karding" and "Paeng" was very minimal — mostly gutter-deep. Actually, many areas are not flooded anymore," the mayor added.
Teodoro added Marikina River no longer overflows as a result of the continuous dredging. He revealed that the city is improving the water-level protocols of the river.
He explained that before, many places in Marikina were already flooded once water at the river reached 16 meters. "Now, not anymore. So, what happens now, the evacuation is purely preemptive," he said.
"That is the policy now to minimize the loss of lives and damage to properties," the mayor added.
