By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — A Marikina lawmaker has called for the immediate suspension and investigation of the contractor and operator of two pumping stations found non-operational as floodwaters rose, warning that negligence cannot be tolerated when lives and livelihoods are at risk.
Marikina 2nd District Rep. Miro Quimbo made the demand Sunday after personally inspecting the Iwahig and Tumana pumping stations following complaints from residents that the facilities were not functioning amid continuing heavy rains.
Quimbo said his inspection found the stations apparently unattended, with no personnel from contractor and operator J.D. Legaspi Construction present at the facilities.
“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.
He called on Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon to immediately order an investigation and suspend J.D. Legaspi Construction pending an examination of the circumstances surrounding the facilities’ reported shutdown.
“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.
The controversy erupted as flooding worsened in parts of Marikina and the Marikina River reached second-alarm level, underscoring the importance of pumping facilities designed to help drain floodwaters from vulnerable communities.
For residents of Tumana and surrounding areas, the condition of the pumping stations has raised questions over whether critical flood-control infrastructure was properly maintained and adequately staffed during a period of heightened danger.
Quimbo said the absence of personnel at the facilities was particularly troubling given the circumstances.
“There is no room for substandard service, negligence, or abandonment when the safety and livelihood of our people are at stake,” he said.
The lawmaker’s demand now places the contractor under scrutiny as authorities determine why the pumping stations were reportedly not operating when they were most needed.
The incident also puts the spotlight on the management of flood-control infrastructure in one of Metro Manila’s most flood-prone areas.
Pumping stations are a critical line of defense for communities located near waterways, particularly during prolonged rainfall when river levels rise rapidly and drainage systems come under severe pressure.
Any failure to operate such facilities during emergencies could aggravate flooding and expose residents, homes and businesses to greater risks.
Quimbo said the issue should be investigated fully and responsibility established if negligence or abandonment is proven.
With heavy rains continuing and river levels already triggering the second alarm, the demand for immediate action is not simply about the operation of two pumping stations—it is about whether critical flood-control infrastructure is ready to perform when communities need it most.
For Marikina residents facing rising waters, the question is now unavoidable: Who was supposed to be there when the pumps stopped working—and why wasn’t anyone there?
ia/xf
