Flood control projects remain on track, assures Public Works amid Senator’s queries
Photo courtesy of Freepik
In light of the recent heavy flooding that submerged several Luzon provinces, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) maintained that flood control projects remain underway. The announcement came out on Tuesday, following queries and criticisms from Senator Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla Jr., who questioned the continuation of flooding despite substantial investments in flood mitigation projects.
Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan spoke confidently about the undertakings which are part of the 2023 budget. He explained to the media that the department had two years to implement the projects.
“I think they mentioned an overall amount of about P180 billion (approx. US$3.5 billion). But that money is distributed across the entire country. The projects are still ongoing and, indeed, on track,” Bonoan noted.
Nevertheless, he accepted that certain ‘minor’ flood control initiatives have encountered delays, as issues with right-of-way, land acquisition and weather disturbances have arisen.
Revilla, at the helm of the Senate public works committee, plans to involve both Bonoan and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Romando Artes, as part of the process of resolving the chronic flooding issue.
“We need to sit down and, once and for all, come up with practical and effective solutions,” Revilla expressed his concern over repeated occurrences of flooding due to rainfall, despite the multiple projects in operation and the billions of pesos invested in flood control projects.
From 2019 to 2023, the DPWH has been allocated P594.62 billion (about US$12 billion) for flood control campaigns, whereas the MMDA received P6 billion (approx. US$120 million) reported Manila Times.
The flooding in many areas of Luzon, causing distress for two weeks, was the result of Typhoons ‘Egay’ and ‘Falcon’ coupled with the impact of the southwest monsoon. Estimates from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council identified 592 affected areas, with most located in Central Luzon and Ilocos regions, as of the early hours of Sunday.
