Parañaque Spillway Project Revived to Secure Metro Manila's Water Source and Enhance Flood Control

The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) are reviving the P90-billion Parañaque Spillway project, citing the need to transform Laguna de Bay into a productive fisheries hub and a dependable freshwater reservoir for Metro Manila and nearby provinces. The 10.5-kilometer spillway, first proposed in the 1970s, is planned to run at least 50 meters underground, linking Laguna de Bay and Manila Bay. Its completion is expected to take at least a decade. Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. stated that the spillway will ease flooding in lakeshore communities across Laguna, Rizal, and Metro Manila, while helping restore the ecological health of Laguna de Bay, which he described as “one of Metro Manila’s most important food baskets and our most affordable source of bangus (milkfish).” “If we restore the lake’s health by improving water circulation and managing floods better, we can raise fish production, increase fisherfolk incomes, and improve raw water quality, which could eventually help lower water treatment costs for consumers,” Mr. Laurel said in a statement issued by the DA. The DA noted that the Parañaque Spillway project faces political and social obstacles, including concerns over community displacement of residents in Muntinlupa and Bacoor, and the possibility of shifting flood risks from one area to another. LLDA General Manager Leopoldo V. Parumog highlighted the project's increased criticality due to plans for the Manggahan Control Gate Structure, a Japanese-funded project aimed at protecting Metro Manila from flooding by diverting over 2,400 cubic meters of floodwater per second from the Marikina River to Laguna de Bay. This diversion may raise water levels in Laguna de Bay, heightening flood risk for lakeshore communities. To build support and address community concerns, Mr. Laurel said the DA and LLDA will collaborate with the departments of Public Works and Highways and Environment and Natural Resources, as well as local governments and private stakeholders. “The challenge is to show that this is not simply another flood control project,” Mr. Laurel said. “Done right, it is an investment in food security, climate resilience, and long-term water sustainability that will benefit millions of Filipinos,” he added. The DA also noted that water concessionaire Maynilad Water Services, Inc. taps Laguna de Bay as a raw water source for its customers in Metro Manila and Cavite, including Muntinlupa and Bacoor.