Protesters vs. anomalies in flood control projects stranded in Pasay flood

A group of church leaders who were supposed to hold a prayer rally outside the Senate to protest against the anomalies in flood projects in the country found themselves stranded amid the floods on Friday. 

In a report on “24 Oras” by Sandra Aguinaldo, the protesters had to seek shelter to continue with their activity. 

“The crisis of the heart, the crisis of faith, moral crisis. Talagang bumagsak na, hindi na nahihiya 'yung mga nagnanakaw sa gobyerno. Talagang garapal,’ said  Monsignor Jerry Bitoon, director/parish priest at San Pablo Cathedral. 

(The crisis of the heart, the crisis of faith, the moral crisis. It has truly fallen; those who steal from the government no longer feel shame. It is truly brazen.) 

According to data gathered by GMA Integrated News Research, there are 1,058 flood control projects in Metro Manila with a total contract cost of P52.66 billion. 

Of all the cities in the capital region, the City of Manila has the largest number of flood control projects with 215, which cost P14.46 billion. 

Out of the 20 biggest projects in Metro Manila, 13 of them are in Manila. Among these are the installation of booster pumps in Estero de Magdalena in Tondo and Estero de Binondo. 

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno said the flood control projects in the city do not seem effective in mitigating the flood. 

“Yang mga programa na ‘yan, walang due notice, wala kaming impormasyon, hindi ipinaalam, hindi nabigyan ng pahintulot ng Pamahalaang Lungsod ng Maynila, which ordinarily we will give,” he said. 

(Those programs, we were not given due notice, we had no information, we were not informed, and the City Government of Manila did not issue a permit for them, which we ordinarily would give.) 

The mayor also asked the Senate to include in its inquiry the flood control projects in Manila, wherein some congressmen were allegedly involved. 

“District 2, District 3, District 6, alam naman ‘yan ng mga taga-Maynila ‘yan. They should also be investigated. Kaya welcome development ‘yang ginawa sa Senado,” he said. 

(District 2, District 3, District 6, the people of Manila know about that. They should be investigated as well. That’s why what the Senate is doing is a welcome development.) 

“Alam mo kung sino ang sinisisi ng mga congressman? Ang DPWH. Kawawa ang DPWH. Pero alam ng mga Pilipino, alam din ng mga Manilenyo, na mahilig mangialam ang mga congressman sa project ng DPWH,” Moreno added. 

(You know who the congressmen blame? The DPWH. The DPWH is to be pitied. But Filipinos know, and Manileños also know, that congressmen like to interfere with DPWH projects.) 

Manila 3rd district Representative Joel Chua said that congressmen are just proposing. 

“Kami ang trabaho namin mag-propose ng mga projects. Halimbawa, yung mga infrastructure na sa tingin namin ay kailangan,” he said. 

(Our job is to propose projects. For example, the infrastructure that we think is needed.) 

Manila 2nd district Representative Rolando Valeriano also denied the allegations of the Manila mayor. 

“Puro hearsay naman si Mayor Isko Moreno eh. Ang congressman nagpo-propose lang naman ng project sa DPWH pero para makialam hindi po ako engineer,” he said. 

(Everything Mayor Isko Moreno says is just hearsay. A congressman only proposes projects to the DPWH, but I am not an engineer to interfere.) 

GMA Integrated News is trying to get a comment from Manila 6th district Representative Benny Abante. 

Meanwhile, the Department of Public Works and Highways said that there are other aspects to be considered in flood control management. 

“Actually, sinasabi namin ang ginagawa nating engineering interventions in Metro Manila is just part of the flood management program in Metro Manila,” said DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan. 

(Actually, we are saying that the engineering interventions we are doing in Metro Manila are just part of the flood management program in Metro Manila.) 

“I-address na natin ‘yung waste management, resettlement ng informal settlers, old drainage system. [Hindi naman lahat sa amin ‘yan].” said Bonoan. 

(Let's address waste management, the resettlement of informal settlers, and the old drainage system. [That's not all up to us].) —Vince Angelo Ferreras/LDF, GMA Integrated News