The flooding problem in Cainta, Rizal is expected to be reduced by over 45 percent once the scheduled construction of the drainage interceptor project along Marcos Highway is completed this year.

Mayor Keith Nieto said this project by the national government and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will serve as a "new highway for floodwaters" so that they will no longer overflow into creeks and residential areas inside subdivisions.

"Instead of having the water flow through the narrow creeks, it will go straight into the drainage interceptor on the highway leading to the Marikina River. It acts as a water expressway—no more crowding inside the narrow pathways," Nieto said.

Nieto explained that because Cainta is situated in a valley, it is forced to catch the floodwaters flowing from high-altitude areas like Antipolo, Marikina, and Sumulong Highway, which drain into the Balanti and Halang Creeks.

Because of this, subdivisions such as Filinvest, Vista Verde, Green Park, Karangalan, Country Homes, Village East, Deuar, Dapon, and Kasibulan are often flooded.

According to Nieto, the project has already been bidded out, and its Phase 1 and Phase 2 construction will last for two years under the administration of MMDA Chairman Don Artes.

While waiting for the completion of the interceptor project, the mayor emphasized that the simultaneous operation of five booster pumps in various parts of the town has been a huge help to mitigate flooding in the town at present.

The local chief executive compared the booster pumps to an airport "walkalator" because they speed up the pumping and flow of water toward the outfalls at a rate of 1.5 to 2 cubic meters per second.

"This is the very first time we are running all five pumps simultaneously. They work together like a series of train stations to quickly discharge the water and prevent it from stagnating," Nieto said. NEIL ALCOBER