Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon has ordered the contractor of the Paco Pumping Station to immediately repair its floodgates, which were damaged during the height of typhoon “Uwan” Sunday night.

This comes as Dizon inspected the pumping station Tuesday morning and observed that the heavy metal floodgates gave way due to the strong current coming from the Pasig River. The floodgates are critical to stopping water from the river from inundating 39 barangays in the Paco area of Manila.

While all the pumping motors were operational, the huge solid metal floodgates broke, becoming stuck deep in the creek bed and unable to be lifted.

The contractor for the repair and rehabilitation of the pumping station was PT Asiana Technologies, which completed the project in April 2024 after starting work in February 2022. Because the damages are still covered by the warranty clause of the contract, the contractor is responsible for the repair work.

Due to the project’s foreign funding, a Korean consultant will oversee the repair job. Immediate, temporary work is expected to take two weeks, while a permanent repair may take three months.

Dizon stressed that the pumping station serves as vital protection for Paco residents against major flooding, and the rush repair of the floodgates will benefit a large area of Paco, Manila.