SAN FERNANDO, PAMPANGA — President Arroyo on Tuesday ordered the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to revive the moth-balled construction of a spillway to ease flooding in Metro Manila.

Pending the construction of the Parañaque spillway, the President also gave the green light for intensified sandbagging operations in flood-prone areas as a short-term measure to prevent flooding in the metropolis.

The latest flood control measures were issued by the President after she endorsed the proposal for a revitalized urban planning and development of Metro Manila by urban planner Felino Palafox Jr. during a cabinet meeting here. The flood control project was initiated during the Marcos administration but was never implemented by succeeding administrations.

“We should already ask the DPWH to work on the spillway,” the President said after Palafox presented his proposal on the updated flood control mapping of Metro Manila, including the immediate construction of spillway that cuts through Paranaque City.

The Parañaque spillway aims to allow the Laguna de Bay to directly flow to Manila Bay instead of having to pass by the already clogged Pasig River. Parañaque is the narrowest area between Manila Bay and Laguna de Bay at eight kilometers.

The President said the DPWH must also ensure the construction of the Parañaque spillway, which should have been built alongside with Manggahan Floodway based on the 1977 flood control plan, would cost the less government resources.

To minimize expenses on right-of-way, she said the 32-year-old Parañaque spillway project could be built alongside the Manila airport “because the land belongs to the airport that will save us a lot of money.”

The spillway, which would use the entire length of the airport runway, would entail lesser “use government lots and less relocation of homes,” according to the President.

Palafox however expressed concern that building the spillway alongside the airport terminal would take many years. The President then said: “We will have to look at the cost effectiveness, but it’s an option. In other words it has to be the cheapest way to do it.”

While the DPWH works on the spillway, the President said the government should implement “sandbagging between now and the end of the year” as a practical measure to curb flooding of communities during storms.

The President also directed the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to begin the master plan of Metro Manila, including the revived flood control project.

"Then we can begin the short term in January 1 (2010) but we should accomplish the immediate this year," she added.

The President acknowledged that the old urban development of Metro Manila must be upgraded especially since the country is confronted with the adverse impact of climate change.

The flood map was initiated during the Marcos administration but was never implemented by succeeding administrations.

“This old study becomes relevant and we need too look at it as a first draft and must be updated to new realities,” she added.

Palafox, in his report to the Cabinet, said the Manggahan Floodway is not enough to flush out floodwaters in Metro Manila because it should have been in tandem with the Parañaque spillway.

“It’s like a toilet without a flush,” he said of the urgency to build the spillway to remove excess floodwaters flowing in Metro Manila into Laguna de Bay.

Congress leaders earlier expressed readiness to fund the massive flood control project for Metro Manila in next year’s national budget. Lawmakers are reportedly ready to provide an initial P5 billion to P10 billion to jumpstart the project.