COA: More than half of MMDA's flood control projects yet to be completed

More than half of the flood control projects of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) have yet to be completed, the Commission on Audit (COA) said.

According to Emil Sumangil’s report on “24 Oras” on Thursday, based on COA’s 2019 audit report, the flooding in Metro Manila could have been mitigated if the projects by MMDA were completed within the timetable of the contract.

COA said several projects were not implemented due to inadequate planning and absence of a coordination mechanism with the other concerned agencies and stakeholders.

Flood control projects of the MMDA last year reached P1.1 billion. However, in its 2019 report, COA said 57 of its 106 projects have yet to be finished.

However, MMDA Flood Control and Sewerage Management Office chief Baltazar Melgar said all the 2019 flood control projects were already completed.

“Na-delay noong 2019 ‘yong release ng approval ng GAA (General Appropriations Act) kaya nagkaroon pa tayo ng election ban so hindi namin kaagad naumpisahan ‘yong mga proyekto kaya medyo na-delay ‘yong completion,” he said.

“Pero lahat ng projects na ‘yan ay completed na before pa itong nangyari na pagbaha,” he added.

However, the estuary in Barangay 505, Zone 5, District 4 in Sampaloc, Manila has yet to be completed.

“Gumawa po ako ng report noon, dinala ko sa MMDA, binigyan naman nila ako ng sagot. Pinuntahan nila ito, chineck nila ‘yong nangyari sa complaint ko… Ang sabi nila, sila na raw bahala sa tao. Wala na ho akong balita kung anong nangyari doon,” said Barangay Chairman Janiel Pamintuan.

Melgar, meanwhile, said the MMDA always acts immediately whenever there are complaints.

Melgar added that the MMDA is not the one to blame for the massive flooding in several parts of the metropolis during the onslaught of Typhoon Ulysses.

“Kasi 3,000 mahigit cubic meters per second lang ang kaya ng Marikina eh ‘yong bumabang tubig may 5,000 cubic meters per second ‘yon so talagang mag-spill over siya. ‘Yon ang nagpabaha sa Marikina,” he said.

Further, he said the government should consider building a dam upstream and more basins to prevent flooding in the future.

“Ang purpose noon is to hold ‘yong floodwaters na bumagsak (from) upstream. ‘Wag muna natin padaluyin sa downstream, hindi kayang i-contain ng ating river tulad ng Marikina,” Melgar said. -- Ma. Angelica Garcia/BAP, GMA News