THE House Committee on Metro Manila Development chaired by Manila Rep. Rolando Valeriano on Wednesday discussed short and long-term plans of concerned agencies to prevent and mitigate flooding in Metro Manila in the aftermath of Typhoon Carina.
“It is highly unacceptable that the Philippines is experiencing worse disasters in Typhoon Carina than in Typhoon Ondoy in 2009,” Valeriano said.
Quezon City Rep. Franz Pumaren asked representatives from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) about their pumping stations, riprapping and walling, which he said are only for “optics” because these have proven inadequate as perimeter walls and slope protection during typhoons and floods.
DPWH Engr. Jocel Bolivar said many of their current projects are ongoing and some would take 10 years at most to finish.
He also reported that only 71 out of the 91 pumping stations are working due to the constant repairs that contractors have not completed. These contractors, he said, have already been ordered to comply with good quality engineering but have not been yet penalized for failure to deliver promptly and effectively.
MMDA chairman Romando Artes said the backflow flood in Valenzuela was due to high water level at Meycauayan and Tullahan rivers caused by the overflow of La Mesa Dam, adding that the remaining flooded areas after Typhoon Carina in Malabon and Navotas were due to the damaged Navotas Navigational Gate.
Navotas City Rep. Tobias “Toby” Tiangco explained the damage to the floodgate was caused by a privately owned boats and fishing vessels that did not follow the flood control protocol of MMDA.
According to Artes, the repair of the Navotas floodgate, which will involve some underwater desilting, will take one to two months to complete.
Former lawmaker and now Muntinlupa Mayor Rozano Rufino Biazon recommended proper waste management, particularly with the rise of online shopping; upgrading infrastructure development to use green construction techniques; and the revision of RA 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Act of 2010, as some of the ways to enhance local government capacity to respond to typhoons.
“DRRM gets 5% of the total National Expenditure Budget as per the reports of the Department of the Budget and Management (DBM). We can tap it to construct better mitigating measures in the danger zones,” Biazon said.
Valenzuela City Rep. Eric Martinez reminded the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration about the importance of efficient and timely public advisories, especially in the flood prone areas of Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela to avoid conflicting news.
ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro agreed, reminding the DPWH to ensure factual data of project completions, especially after questions arose in the aftermath of Typhoon Carina regarding the 5,500 flood control projects that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. mentioned in his State of the Nation Address.
Valeriano and Gabriela Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas emphasized to private garbage collector organizations present in the committee hearing about the importance of their proactive operations to prevent flooding in Metro Manila.
Brosas also suggested that environmental groups also be invited to future meetings of the committee.
Pumaren also lauded the Department of Social Welfare and Development, represented by Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao, for their fast delivery of food packs in affected areas during and after Typhoon Carin’s onslaught.
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