This is in reference to the article “P600-B flood control master plan in old bill” (News, Inquirer, 6/20/13).
The article made mention of a bill, supposedly filed in the 15th Congress, seeking the implementation of a P600-billion massive flood control program, but the bill “had been stranded at the committee level since August 2012.”
May we clarify that the failure to pass the “old bill” did not deter the Department of Public Works and Highways from undertaking the government’s Flood Management Master Plan for Metro Manila and surrounding areas. Under the program, the DPWH has identified high-impact flood control projects for immediate implementation. These projects have a total cost of P5 billion. Of that amount, P3.94 billion has already been released to finance flood control projects in Metro Manila (P2.024 billion), Central Luzon (P956 million), Southern Tagalog (P780 million) and P180 million for the operation and maintenance of dredging equipment for nationwide use.
Among the most critical projects are located in: Valenzuela-Obando-Meycauayan; Caloocan-Malabon-Navotas; Upper Marikina River; Marikina River; Mangahan floodway; west and east side of Mangahan floodway; Bulacan; Pampanga; Bataan; Sta. Maria-Mabitac River; Sta. Cruz River; San Pedro River; and Biñan River.
The amount of P1.6 billion has been released to the Metro Manila Development Authority for the rehabilitation and improvement of 12 existing pumping stations in Metro Manila. The clearing of eight major waterways in Metro Manila, along which there are about 20,000 informal settlers who will be provided with decent resettlements, is also part of the government’s interagency efforts.
The government is also currently working on the P5.2-billion urgent Mt. Pinatubo hazard mitigation project, Phase III in Central Luzon.
These efforts will be complemented by the P4.21-billion integrated disaster risk reduction and climate-change measures to be implemented in the low-lying areas of Pampanga starting next year with the assistance of South Korea-Economic Development Cooperation.
The government, likewise, continues to pursue nonstructural measures, including the strengthening of the Flood Information and Warning System, capacity-building for strengthening community-based Flood Risk Management, improving the management information system for disaster risk management, and reforestation and watershed management.
Rest assured that with or without the passage of the bill on the flood control master plan, the government continues to address the flood problem in Metro Manila and surrounding areas, as well as in other parts of the country.
—ROGELIO L. SINGSON, secretary, Department of Public Works and Highways