SENATORS grilled Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan on the perennial flooding in Metro Manila and other parts of the country despite the
department’s whooping budget for the government’s flood control program.
Sen. Bong Revilla, chair of the Senate Committee on Public Works, revealed he has been furious over what appeared to be “a vicious cycle
for the past several decades that burden our people.”
“There seems to be no sense of urgency. Even worse, Filipinos feel forsaken,” he said.
Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva rejected the Department of Public Works and Highways’ claim that there is a master plan to
address the massive flooding in Metro Manila and other parts of the country.
He also pressed the percentage of DPWH’s flood control projects, which obtained a whooping P183 billion for the current year on top of
another P94 billion.
For 2024, the proposed DPWH’s flood control project was pegged at P216 billion on top of another P33 billion.
However, Bonoan failed to give a percentage of project implementation and merely said they have two years to complete their flood control
programs.
Villanueva also threatened to resign if the DPWH will say reclamation activities didn’t worsen flooding in his home province of Bulacan.
He then asked Bonoan if there are studies showing that reclamation projects add up to the problem of flooding in the country.
“I won’t be able to offer an answer at this point in time because I don’t think any department has really gone into a technical
assessment,” said Bonoan.
He stressed that technically, there’s nothing wrong with reclamation for as long as it will not impede the flow of the rivers going out of
the bay because the bay is a very large body of water.
Villanueva then demanded Bonoan to answer if he thinks the reclamation projects worsen the flooding project, but the DPWH secretary said he
“cannot offer an answer.”
Villanueva pointed out he is not against reclamation, but noted that the government apparently just agreed to the projects in Manila Bay.
Senator Cynthia Villar questioned Bonoan if the reclamation projects won’t cause flooding as the water flow from Las Piñas and Bacoor
rivers to Manila Bay might be blocked.
She also demanded that the pumping station at the boundary of Las Pinas and Paranaque be removed as it has been causing floods in her
home city of Las Pinas.
Sen. Christopher Go asked Bonoan if they can prioritize implementing their flood control projects in inhabited areas.
In making rounds in the country, he related seeing flood control in places where there are no people.
“What are you protecting there? Slope protection? What about places like Bulacan, Pampanga, and Metro Manila?” said Go.
He requested if the DPWH funds can be used instead for those in need.