Marikina 2nd District Rep. Miro Quimbo on Sunday demanded the immediate suspension of the contractor and operator managing the Iwahig and Tumana Pumping Stations, following an unannounced inspection that caught the flood control facilities completely unmanned and offline during heavy rainfall.
Quimbo conducted the site check in response to frantic distress calls from Barangay Tumana residents, who reported rising floodwaters despite the presence of government pumping equipment nearby.
Upon arrival, the lawmaker found no personnel from the contractor, J.D. Legaspi Construction, on site to run the machinery.
“I went there myself because our people in Tumana were telling us that the pumping stations are not working. I wanted to see for myself, and what I found was deeply concerning, the facilities were not operational and there were no personnel attending to it,” Quimbo said.
The representative noted that he had previously reminded the firm to prepare the infrastructure ahead of the storm.
“I personally reached out to the operator and told them to make sure the pumping stations are working. What is unacceptable is that I was not told that the stations were still not operational even while we’re under red rainfall warning,” he said.
Designed to divert stormwater away from residential zones, the idle status of the Iwahig and Tumana facilities allowed runoff to spill directly into surrounding streets, escalating flood risks for nearby households.
“At a time when our people desperately need these facilities to work, a pumping station cannot simply be left unattended. These are not ordinary equipment, we are talking about infrastructure that is supposed to protect communities from flooding,” Quimbo noted.
In response to the oversight, Quimbo formally appealed to Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon to intervene, strip J.D. Legaspi Construction of its operating contract and initiate formal administrative proceedings.
“I am calling on Secretary Vince Dizon to immediately suspend this operator and conduct a full investigation. If negligence is established, there must be consequences,” Quimbo said. “There is no room for substandard service, negligence, or abandonment when the safety and livelihood of our people are at stake.”
The incident coincided with the Marikina River reaching Second Alarm status as Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) rains continued to saturate Metro Manila.
“The people of Marikina has endured enough. We cannot wait for people to lose their homes, livelihoods, or even their lives again before we demand accountability. Every pumping station must be operational when our communities need it most,” Quimbo said.