Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan has filed a resolution calling for a Senate investigation into the structural integrity, design, construction, implementation, and maintenance of flood control projects, while urging the development of a comprehensive national flood management plan.
Proposed Senate Resolution No. 592, filed on August 11, aims to develop an integrated and evidence-based national flood management plan after heavy monsoon rains and typhoons flooded Metro Manila and nearby provinces in recent weeks.
“Ang flood control projects ay hindi lamang nasa papel at inaagiw sa mga opisina ng pamahalaan. Dapat itong ikinakasa nang wasto, nai-implementa nang tama, at napoproteksyunan ang mga Pilipino,” he said.
“At hindi rin sapat na may proyektong nakikita. Ang tanong ay kung tama ba ang proyekto? Tama ba ang disenyo? Maayos ba ang pagkakagawa at bahagi ba ito ng isang malinaw na plano para sa buong lugar? Kung kanya-kanya ang proyekto at walang kabuuang direksyon, baka imbes na solusyon, lalo pang lumala ang problema,” he added.
In the resolution, the lawmaker pointed out that it’s not enough that the government is implementing various flood control projects, but that these projects must be planned and implemented with an integrated national flood management master plan in mind.
“Again, walang kwenta ang mga flood control projects kung iba-iba ang sistema, proseso, at disenyo. Kailangan well-coordinated yan sa bawat bayan, munisipalidad, at siyudad. Hindi naman nalilimitahan ang tubig. Pupunta ’yan kung saan may espasyo, kaya dapat ang ating flood control projects ay magkakarugtong,” he explained.
Pangilinan also stressed in the resolution the need to strengthen transparency and accountability in the use of public funds for flood control projects, acknowledging “reports of alleged ghost, substandard, redundant, or improperly implemented” flood control projects that are the subject of ongoing investigations.
The resolution seeks the development and adoption of an evidence-based National Flood Management Plan that will “provide a common framework for national and local flood control projects, river basin and watershed management, drainage and land use planning and other measures necessary to reduce flood risk and protect affected communities.”