Urban planner’s suggestion? Smart tunnels, not flood walls to control metro inundation | ABS-CBN
ADVERTISEMENT
Welcome, Kapamilya! We use cookies to improve your browsing experience. Continuing to use this site means you agree to our use of cookies. Tell me more!
Urban planner’s suggestion? Smart tunnels, not flood walls to control metro inundation
Urban planner’s suggestion? Smart tunnels, not flood walls to control metro inundation
Katrina Domingo,
ABS-CBN News
Published Nov 26, 2020 05:32 AM PHT
MANILA - Architect and urban planner Felino "Jun" Palafox Jr. on Wednesday urged the government to build underground flood systems instead of putting up flood walls along riverbanks, saying "cold structures" would "uglify" the cities.
MANILA - Architect and urban planner Felino "Jun" Palafox Jr. on Wednesday urged the government to build underground flood systems instead of putting up flood walls along riverbanks, saying "cold structures" would "uglify" the cities.
"Smart tunnels" are 3-layered structures that serve as spillways and could also be used as roads, Palafox said during a Senate hearing on flood control projects.
"Smart tunnels" are 3-layered structures that serve as spillways and could also be used as roads, Palafox said during a Senate hearing on flood control projects.
"Itong mga dikes will be virtually obtrusive. Hindi maganda tingnan kaya ang proposal ko po smart tunnels," said the urban planner, who helped develop cities, such as Dubai.
"Itong mga dikes will be virtually obtrusive. Hindi maganda tingnan kaya ang proposal ko po smart tunnels," said the urban planner, who helped develop cities, such as Dubai.
"They will uglify our cities. Imagine Manila Bay with high walls, Pasig River with high walls."
"They will uglify our cities. Imagine Manila Bay with high walls, Pasig River with high walls."
ADVERTISEMENT
Such tunnels could be built for P2 billion, and could also be more useful as it could "even alleviate the traffic situation" in some areas, he said.
Such tunnels could be built for P2 billion, and could also be more useful as it could "even alleviate the traffic situation" in some areas, he said.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said it was planning to build a dam in Marikina City, flood walls along Pasig River, and another spillway in Parañaque City.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said it was planning to build a dam in Marikina City, flood walls along Pasig River, and another spillway in Parañaque City.
The 3 projects are expected to cost around P138 billion, according to data from the DPWH.
The 3 projects are expected to cost around P138 billion, according to data from the DPWH.
The DPWH's Parañaque spillway was based on Palafox's proposal in 1975.
The DPWH's Parañaque spillway was based on Palafox's proposal in 1975.
"'Yung mga prinopose ko when I was 22 years old, ginagawa na ngayon. I'm 70. At least ginagawa na," he said.
"'Yung mga prinopose ko when I was 22 years old, ginagawa na ngayon. I'm 70. At least ginagawa na," he said.
(The things I proposed when I was 22 years old are being constructed today. I'm 70. At least they're doing it.)
(The things I proposed when I was 22 years old are being constructed today. I'm 70. At least they're doing it.)
"Hindi po kulang sa pagplaplano pero kulang sa implementation at continuity," he said.
"Hindi po kulang sa pagplaplano pero kulang sa implementation at continuity," he said.
(We do not lack planning; we lack implementation and continuity.)
(We do not lack planning; we lack implementation and continuity.)
The government should also build more open spaces in cities, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, Palafox said.
The government should also build more open spaces in cities, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, Palafox said.
"Open spaces and parks, they are not just evacuation areas. They are the lungs of the city," he said.
"Open spaces and parks, they are not just evacuation areas. They are the lungs of the city," he said.
"If we do nothing again after this pandemic, I think some of our cities will no longer be livable."
"If we do nothing again after this pandemic, I think some of our cities will no longer be livable."
RELATED VIDEO
Read More:
Jun Palafox
flood control projects
smart tunnels
DPWH
Marikina Dam
flood walls
Parañaque spillway
Senate
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
