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The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will start the expansion of the drainage system along España Boulevard this September.
DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon and Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno inspected a section of España Boulevard in Manila, where severe flooding was reported last week due to heavy rains.
Dizon also mentioned that there will be major construction for the four cross drains in the area.
“Merong mga mangyayaring mga major construction dito in the coming month, starting September. Meron tayong apat na cross drain na gagawin,” Sec. Dizon said
Mayor Isko Moreno mentioned that Manila serves as a catch basin of rainwaters from the mountainous area, that’s why he believes this is the right time to make the expansion.
“Kami talaga ang tagasalo ng tubig coming from the eastern board. So all the way from the mountainside,” he said
Lane closure will be expected once the major construction begins. The LGU and the DPWH asked for understanding and apologized in advance for any traffic disruptions due to construction along España Boulevard.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) reports that total money recovered from the flood control project kickbacks has reached ₱841 million.
The breakdown of recovered money is as follows:
According to the DOJ, the recovered amount came from the individuals admitted into the Witness Protection Program (WPP).
The ₱841 million has already been remitted to the Bureau of Treasury.
Water levels at Angat Dam have dropped to an all-time historical low. According to the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), the water level has reached 150.42 meters on July 25. This is the lowest level registered since the dam began operating in 1967. This breaks the previous record low of 157.55 meters recorded in 2010.
Due to light rainfall in recent days, the water level has increased slightly to 150.85 meters on July 29.
MWSS Spokesperson Engineer Patrick Dizon admitted that the current situation is alarming, as reservoir water levels should normally begin rising around this time based on historical trends.
“From January to July pababa siya, then July to December, that's the time na magre-refill yung ating reservoir,” he said
[“Water levels drop from January to July, and then from July to December, the reservoir refills.”]
However, that expected refilling trend may not materialize this year. PAGASA Senior Weather Specialist and Hydrologist Oyie Pagulayan explained that recent rains have not been sufficient to significantly impact the Angat watershed.
“Umuulan pero hindi po siya ganon ka-significant or kataas yung mga pag-ulan to really have a significant na impact doon sa watershed. Maaaring ano po talagang patuloy pa rin yung pagbaba in spite of this,” she said
For now, most of the rainfall is merely being absorbed to replenish soil moisture. PAGASA added that high temperatures continue to drive up water consumption. Water levels dropped from roughly 159.90 meters at the start of July to 150.85 meters, representing a nine-meter drop in less than a month.
Pagulayan noted that during the previous record low in 2010, the country was similarly experiencing a meteorological drought brought on by El Niño.
Despite Angat Dam supplying approximately 90% of Metro Manila’s water needs, the MWSS clarified that they cannot declare a water crisis or water shortage.
“Kung mapapansin, 150 meters na ngayon pero wala pa ring mga interruption na nangyayari sa ating system kasi nga na-augment natin 'yung ating pangangailangan since 2019. Kaya ang ginagawa naming mitigating measures is may iba pang pinagkukuhanan aside from the Angat Dam. Kaya sa ngayon, at the level of 150.85 meters ay hindi natin nararamdaman yung epekto nitong pagbaba ng ating reservoir,” he explained
[“If you notice, we are at 150 meters now, but there are still no water interruptions in our system because we have augmented our supply capacity since 2019. Our mitigating measures involve getting water from sources other than Angat Dam. That is why, even at 150.85 meters, consumers are not feeling the impact of the reservoir’s decline.”]
MWSS also admitted that because Angat’s water level dipped below the 180-meter mark, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) is no longer receiving its water allocation to prioritize the domestic water supply.
Meanwhile, PAGASA hopes that the upcoming tropical cyclones may help replenish the reservoir.
“We are expecting 2 to 4 na tropical cyclones for the month of August. So ito po ay talagang historically, climatologically speaking, nandito po talaga yung talagang parang bagyuhan season na marami talagang bagyo na papasok. So we are hoping na ito po ay makapagbigay din ng mga pag-ulan within the watershed,” she explained
[“We are expecting 2 to 4 tropical cyclones for the month of August. Historically and climatologically speaking, this is peak typhoon season when many storms enter and occur. So we are hoping that these will bring rainfall directly over the watershed.”]
However, PAGASA emphasized that storm frequency alone isn’t enough. They explained that a single heavy rainfall event must go directly over the watershed to increase the reservoir levels.
Based on the rule curve elevation, the water level of the dam must reach 180.12 meters to fulfill its functions in irrigation, potable water supply, and power generation.
No cross-examination was conducted for the prosecution’s first two witnesses — former LandBank branch managers Violeta Constatntino (Shaw Boulevard branch) and Nenita Camposano (DepEd branch), regarding Article I or the alleged anomalous use of confidential funds by Vice President Sara Duterte.
According to Defense Spokesperson Atty. Michael Poa, they saw no issues in the witness’s testimony that needed further probing.
“Wala namang kwestonable. Wala namang damaging na nailabas ang ating witness at regular lang naman na yung witness ay nag-identify ng mga tseke at hindi naman natin kini-question yun. So, I didn't want to prolong the proceedings, and you know, be petty by asking questions pa kung hindi naman kinakailangan,” he explained
[“There was nothing questionable. There was no damaging raised by the witness, and the checks were regularly identified, and we aren’t questioning that. So, I didn't want to prolong the proceedings, and you know, be petty by asking questions if it’s no longer needed.”]
The defense only asked two brief questions to the second witness, Nenita Camposano.
Poa explained why he did not give much weight to the bank manager’s remark as ‘unusual’.
“Well, kasi yung unusual para sa akin, that's the opinion nung bank manager. I don't see how it will affect the case. Hindi naman siya matter at issue dito. Hindi naman kine-question yung validity noong encashment, diba? So I thought it was petty for us to even dwell on that,” he said
[“Well, for me, the unusual remark is the opinion of the bank manager. I don't see how it will affect the case. It’s not a matter or an issue here. It doesn't question the validity of encashment, right? So I thought it was petty for us to even dwell on that.”]
From the defense team’s perspective, not every matter must not undergo lengthy cross-examination, especially if there is no direct relation to the primary issue that needs to be addressed in the trial.
“Sa amin naman po, hangga't makakaya, kung pwede namang hindi na kuwestiyonin ng mga bagay-bagay, in terms of official documents etc., hindi na ko rin naman po gagawin, hindi na lang gagawin ng defense team.” Poa said
[“For our part, as much as possible, if the key matters in terms of official documents, etc. doesn’t need to be questioned, I won’t do it, the defense team won’t do it.”]
Atty. Poa clarified, however, that this does not mean the defense agrees with all the witnesses' testimony.
For House Lead Public Prosecutor Gerville Luistro, it’s not surprising when the defense team skips the cross-examination of the two witnesses regarding the alleged misuse of confidential funds.
The two witnesses who appeared before the Senate impeachment court on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, were both former branch managers of the LandBank of the Philippines — Violeta Contantino of the Shaw Boulevard branch and Nenita Camposano of the DepEd branch.
“Ako, hindi ako na-surprise because the subject matter of the testimony is the encashment of the check and it is completely documented, noh? So how else will you conduct a cross-examination on these witnesses who are merely testifying on the process that was done concerning the encashment?” Luistro said
[“I wasn’t surprised because the subject matter of the testimony is the encashment of the check and it is completely documented, right? So how else will you conduct a cross-examination on these witnesses who are merely testifying on the process that was done concerning the encashment?”]
According to Defense Panel Spokesperson Atty. Michael Poa, they limit the cross-examination to the witnesses of the prosecution on Day 10 of the impeachment trial as a part of their legal strategy.
House Prosecution Panel Member and Iloilo 3rd District Rep. Lorenz Defensor is delighted with the defense panel’s move.
“Yun sana ang gusto natin na maintindihan ng mga tao, sa simpleng paraan na hindi na nating kailangang palawigin pa,” he said
[“That’s what we want the public to understand, in a simple way without needing to prolong it.”]
The lawmaker also characterized the testimonies of the two LandBank branch managers as a good start.
“Sa palagay namin, mahusay na simula ito. Sa simula’t simula palang, ang mga banko na pinaggalingan ng 612.5 million na cash ay unusual, and like I said, unusual is a perfect start for confidential funds,”
[“We think this is a great start. From the very beginning, the 612.5 million cash from the banks was unusual, and like I said, unusual is a perfect start for confidential funds.”]
Next week, two officials from the Commission on Audit (COA) are set to appear in the impeachment court and take the witness stand regarding the audit of the confidential funds spending of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) when VP Duterte was a Secretary at that time.
