Malapit nang maging flood-free campus ang University of Santo Tomas, bunsod ng nalalapit na pagkumpleto ng drainage project nito.

Sa isang panayam, sinabi ni UST Facilities Management Office director Rev. Fr. Dexter Austria na ang flood-control project ng unibersidad, na inumpisahan noong 2018, ay posibleng matapos sa gitna ng 2021.

“We are hoping that this would be completed by next year, middle of next year, so we could at least experience what it is to be a flood-free campus whenever there is a typhoon or even a little rain that we could accommodate inside the campus.” ani Austria.

Papalitan ng proyekto ang mga lumang drainage lines ng bagong drainage system at magbibigay din ng detention facilities na maaaring mapaglagyan ng tubig baha sa loob ng 21.5-hectare campus.

Ayon kay Austria, ang proyekto ay isinagawa bilang pagtugon sa naging epekto ng Bagyong Ondoy, na nagpalubog sa unibersidad at sa malaking bahagi ng Kalakhang Maynila noong 2009.

Aniya, “It has been a nightmare for all of us here, that prompted us to have this drainage improvement system because it would not only bring benefit inside the campus but also benefit other communities as well.”

Pagdating naman sa laki ng tubig, iginiit ni Austria na ang drainage system ng UST ay puwedeng makapag-accomdate ng “four and a half Olympic-sized swimming pools” na tubig ulan.

Sa pag-uumpisa ng Disyembre, sinabi ni Austria sa isang Facebook post na ang flood-control project ay “75% complete.”

Batay sa website ng unibersidad, saklaw ng proyekto ang pitong zones. Ang mga ito ay ang:

Zone A – Araullo Drive (harap ng Quadricentennial Pavilion, España side) at Roque Ruaño Drive (harap ng Roque Ruaño at Albertus Magnus Buildings)

Zone B – Arellano Drive (harap ng Parade Grounds, España side) at Tamayo Drive (harap ng Beato Angelico at Buenaventura G. Paredes, O.P. Buildings)

Zone C – Osmeña Drive (sa pagitan ng Parade Grounds at Benavides Garden)

Zone D – Quezon Drive (sa pagitan ng Benavides Garden at Multi-Deck Carpark at Quadricentennial Pavilion)

Zone E – Leon Ma. Guerrero Drive (sa pagitan ng Multi-Deck Carpark at Health Service) at Ceferino Gonzales Alley Drive (sa harap ng Santísimo Rosario Parish Church)

Zone F – Ceferino Gonzales Drive (driveway papuntang A.H. Lacson Gate) at Intramuros Drive (harap ng Arch of the Centuries)

Zone G – Leon Maria Guerrero Drive (harap ng ospital)