Senate probe of gov’t flood control programs pressed

Senator Bam Aquino has called on the Senate to launch an extensive probe into the government’s flood control projects following the massive flooding that affected many parts of the country after several days of continuous rains.

- By HANNAH L. TORREGOZA

Aquino said it is necessary to examine the effectiveness of the government’s flood mitigation efforts despite the allocation of billions of pesos in public funds for flood control.

The senator noted that around P360 billion has been allocated for national flood control programs under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and other implementing agencies, or roughly 20 percent of the total infrastructure budget of P1.6-trillion.

“Tt promised flood control, but what the people experienced is flood out of control,” Aquino said, underscoring the need to thoroughly scrutinize if the billion pesos allocated for flood control were used properly. “It is also good to know if our flood control plans are still effective or if the people’s tax money is just being wasted and going nowhere.”

Aquino also stressed the importance of ensuring that communities are protected against the worsening impacts of climate change.

Sen. JV Ejercito also lamented the state of the country after the massive flooding noting that more than P300 billion worth of public funds every year go to flood control projects.

“But instead of high-impact flood mitigation projects like floodways, pumping stations, and so on, what is in the budget is mostly drainage improvement and slope protection. Almost all the rivers are paved but they still flood. Drainage improvement is repeated but they still flood,” Ejercito reiterated, stressing the need to follow what is in the flood control masterplan and fund high-impact programs, rather than dividing and making project patchworks. “But why do patchwork? ...The people are pitiful. We are victims of floods every year.”

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