Mayors complain of unauthorized DPWH projects being implemented in PH cities

Several mayors complained of alleged unauthorized projects implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways in their respective areas, according to League of Cities in the Philippines national president and San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora.

In a dzBB interview on Tuesday, Zamora noted that their group had released a statement calling for the agencies to coordinate with Local Government Units (LGUs) as unauthorized projects seemed to be a common occurrence.

“Ako po, pangarap ko bilang mayor ng San Juan, at alam kong pangarap ng kahit sinumang mayor, na tuluyan nang maging flood-free ang aming mga lungsod, at kami po talaga ang mas nakakaalam, ano ba ang mga lugar na binabaha at ano bang hakbang na gawin… So kung mabibigyan po ng pagkakataon na ang boses ng LGU ay mapapakinggan at yung pangangailangan namin ay mabanggit namin sa national government pagdating lalong-lalo na sa flood control projects, malaking bagay po yan,” he shared.

(My dream as the mayor of San Juan, and I know that this is also the dream of any mayor, is to truly turn our cities flood-free and we are really the ones that know what areas are flooded and what steps we have to take… So if there will be a chance for LGUs to be heard and our needs to be given to the national government, especially when it comes to flood control projects, that’s a big deal.)

“Base sa sentimyento ng mga kapwa kong mayor, napakarami po sa kanila ang nagsasabi na sa kani-kanilang mga lungsod at sa kanilang rehiyon ay bigla nalang po nagsisimula minsan ang DPWH ng mga proyekto ng di nakikipagugnayan sa LGU,” he added.

(Based on the sentiments of my fellow mayors, a lot of them say that in their respective cities and regions, DPWH suddenly starts projects without coordinating with the LGU.)

In the statement released on Monday, the League of Cities of the Philippines expressed their support for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s call to involve LGUs in national government-funded projects.

“This directive is crucial in minimizing, if not eliminating, the inefficiencies that have long plagued large-scale infrastructure projects, particularly those undertaken by the Department of Public Works and Highways. Its reinstatement is a clear testament to the President's growing trust in the capacity of LGUs as genuine partners of the national government in nation-building,” the statement read.

“This policy shift will pave the way for more efficient and effective project implementation, optimal utilization of resources, and ultimately, enhanced public service delivery…. The League of Cities of the Philippines deeply values the trust bestowed upon us by the President. As one united front, let us rise to the challenge and serve as true agents of transformative change for the benefit of the Filipino people,” it added.

There had been 1,058 flood control projects in the National Capital Region (NCR) under the Marcos Administration, which cost a total of P52.66 billion, according to data from the sumbongsapangulo.ph website.

Among the regions, NCR ranks second only to Region 3 both in terms of the number of projects and contract cost. — Jiselle Anne Casucian/BAP, GMA Integrated News