Flood control funds well spent
NOBODY can deny that flooding still occurs in the Philippines especially in Metro Manila during the rainy and typhoon seasons.
Flooding happens in almost all parts of the world.
But flooding in our country is now being controlled by the government of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. through the state’s various mitigating programs.
One can notice that flood waters quickly receded after Typhoon Carina and the Habagat left the country.
Thus, I agree with the observation of Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan that the flood control programs implemented by the government over the years have been effective in mitigating flooding.
Bonoan made the remarks during a press briefing in Malacañang when asked if government funds for flood control could be considered well-spent money.
“Sa akin, I think, well it helped a lot actually, it helped a lot iyong mga initial flood control programs that had been implemented over the years. Hindi naman natin sabihin na nasayang lang iyan,” Bonoan told said.
“And this is evident enough that iyong sinasabi nga natin noong Ondoy, the floodwaters stayed in Metro Manila for more than two weeks or… ito na ngayon which some of the flood control projects that were implemented over the years – iyong engineering interventions and other projects that were implemented – kita naman natin that the floodwater has receded quite faster than Ondoy,” he added, referring to the tropical storm that inundated Metro Manila in 2009.
Bonoan assured that the funds spent on the infrastructure component helped a lot in mitigating the flooding problems not only in Metro Manila but also in other parts of the country.
This includes engineering interventions that have two parts – the immediate protection of low-lying areas and the implementation of holistic flood control programs through the river basin concept.
“But immediate, we need it now – immediate iyong protection of low-lying areas through iyong flood control projects all over the country. Kasi iyong River Basin Program, holistic ito but it may take a little time to implement all the components of the River Basin Program,” Bonoan said.
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Romando Artes backed Bonoan, saying government money spent on those programs proved its worth in addressing flooding.
“Regarding doon kung nasayang ang pera – I don’t think so kasi mayroon din namang mga areas na dati binabaha like iyong Vista Real in Quezon City and LGB,” Artes said.
“Noon pong Ondoy, halos lagpas tao po ang tubig diyan pero ito pong Bagyong Carina, wala pong baha sa loob ng mga subdivisions na iyan – iyon po ay dahil sa mga flood control measures and projects na na-implement ng DPWH particularly sa Marikina River and Pasig River.”
Such a scenario showed the efficiency of the flood control projects implemented by MMDA and DPWH in particular, he pointed out.
Bonoan said he reported to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. during Tuesday’s meeting at the Palace the completion of about 5,521 projects starting July 2022 to May 2024, or since the administration took over.
And with DPWH’s continuing flood control projects all over the country, the agency will continue to implement more than 5,000 flood control projects, he said.
More power to the DPWH and the MMDA!
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