PNoy: Planned road-ring dike in Laguna may be self-financing

President Benigno Aquino III on Thursday assured the public that there is funding for the proposed dike meant to prevent flooding in Laguna, adding it may even finance itself.

"Maco-control yung pagpasok ng tubig once na-establish itong road-ring dike na ito at ang pinakamagandang parte... it can be self-financing," Aquino told reporters after visiting flood victims at the Tinabunan Elementary School in Imus, Cavite.

On Wednesday, Aquino said a road-ring dike will be constructed along the lake-shore in Laguna province to prevent future floods.

In the government's flood management master plan released just last June, the dike was identified in the plan as an "optimum solution in solving the flooding situation in the Laguna lake-shore area."

"Matagal nang plano ito. It's in the plan," said Aquino.

Silt that makes Laguna Lake shallow causes the rapid overflow of water into low-lying towns around the lake, including those Aquino visited on Wednesday – Biñan and San Pedro.

However, the dike was not mentioned as among those projects recommended for implementation in the next 23 years.

The only major structural project for lake communities that made the short list for funding was the P25-billion "West Laguna lake-shore Land Raising" and the P7.158-billion "Land Raising for Small Cities around Laguna lake-shore."

In a text message to GMA News Online, Public Works Sec. Rogelio Singson said the dike  is part of long-term solutions included in the Master Plan for Flood Management of Metro Manila and Laguna Lake.

"Dalawa iyong project na nasa masterplan. Iyong mas priority doon iyong road-ring dike," he also told reporters on Thursday.

Sought for a clarification, he said the dike project falls under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program for the C-6 Extension, a 43.6 km, 4-lane highway from the lakeshore area of Laguna de Bay from Taguig, Rizal to Los Baños, Calamba.

"Nauna na kasi yung [C6 Extension]. It really doesn't matter. For us, it's there," Singson told GMA News Online in a separate phone interview.

On Thursday, Aquino said the dike may be financed through reclamation.

"Ang proposal nung proponent is dahil may mare-reclaim nga ang bayad sa kanila something like a third of the reclaimed area mababayaran na yung combination dike and road that will open up a lot of areas around Laguna leading to development," he said.

According to the DPWH website, the highway supposedly aims "to ease traffic congestion in Muntinlupa and Calamba areas" and "serve as flood control measure for the Laguna de Bay coastal area."

But Singson said they don't have a timeline yet, but they are coming up with a detailed design of the project.

"We are just completing the feasibility study," he said in another text message.

Singson also clarified that it is a ring-road dike and not a "mega dike" as previously reported.

Aside from the dike, the President also revealed the government's plan to construct a retarding basin to prevent future flooding in Cavite.

"Yung baha ho... gagawa na tayo solusyon, iyong malaking maitutulong. May lupa hong pribado, magkakaroon ng tinatawag na retarding basin," Aquino told flood victims at the Tinabunan Elementary School in Imus, Cavite on Thursday. — LBG, GMA News