SENATE Committee on Public Works Chairman Sen. Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr. is set to summon Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairperson Romando S. Artes to demand answers on the still unresolved flooding in the country that continues to recur every downpour.
“It’s a frustrating situation that every time it rains, we always get flooded, while there are so many projects and billions spent to prevent flooding, but it still happens again and again. We must sit down and, once and for all , come up with workable and effective solutions,” Revilla said.
“We will summon Sec. Bonoan and Chair Artes because the big question of all of us should be answered as to why despite many years passed saying that the two agencies are doing something about the flood, we are still being flooded,” he explained.
The Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Public Works chastised the ineffectiveness of the agencies’ flood control programs despite receiving hefty amounts of annual appropriation on the said program.
According to the annual General Appropriations Act from 2019-2023, DPWH received a total of P594.62 billion appropriation for their flood control program while MMDA received P6 billion.
“Every year we allocate funds to these two agencies to solve the flood problem. But why can’t we feel it? Where are the funds put in this program because the flood, it doesn’t disappear every time it rains. Actually, even more so the flood we are experiencing is increasing,” the veteran lawmaker lamented.
Revilla also expressed disappointment over DPWH and MMDA’s inadequate response of merely releasing press statements every time the country would be submerged in flood.
“What the people need is not an explanation, what we need is action, solutions and not anesthesia so that the public does not feel the hardship of flooding simply because the problem cannot be identified,” he stressed.
Just last week, the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Egay hit many parts of the country. According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), a total of 2,397,336 people or 654,837 families were affected by the storm. NDRRMC further reported 425 flooding incidents due to the inclement weather.
