DPWH: NCR flood control master plan still below 30% completion after a decade

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Tuesday admitted that the master plan on flood management in Metro Manila is not even 30% complete, more than a decade after it was approved. 

Interviewed on Dobol B TV, DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan said that some of the components of the Metro Manila flood control master plan had not yet started when President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. assumed office in 2022. 

“I think ang tantsa ko rito is under about 30% because there are several components po nito, maraming components nitong master plan na ito. Sa amin sa DPWH, is actually ‘yung sa pagdaloy ng floodwater along Pasig River. There are other components like environmental, social, and other issues,” he said. 

(Based on my estimation, it’s below 30% completed because there are several components to this masterplan. For the DPWH, it’s the flow of floodwater along the Pasig River. There are other components like environmental, social, and other issues.) 

“Unfortunately when we came in, hindi pa nasisimulan ‘yung ibang mga components,” he added.

(The other components had yet to be started.)

Back in 2012, the Aquino administration approved a P351-billion long-term flood management master plan to solve the flooding problem in the National Capital Region, which was considered the “most expensive and ambitious” at that time.

Then-DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson said that the full implementation of the flood control plan will only be realized in 2035 because it involves large-scale infrastructure projects.

Last week, the country was hit by Tropical Cyclone Carina and the enhanced Southwest Monsoon (Habagat). Floods, swollen rivers, landslides, and soil erosion, among others, were reported in different areas, resulting in lost of lives and damage to properties.

In the aftermath of the weather systems, several senators criticized the implementation of flood control projects, which they said receive billions of pesos in allocations in the annual national budget.

Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero said that around P255 billion was allocated for the DPWH’s flood control projects in the P5.768-trillion national budget for 2024, which he said is disproportionately large compared to other critical sectors.

But according to Bonoan, the DPWH has completed over 5,000 flood control projects since he assumed office. 

COVID-19

He also lamented that some of the flood control projects were impeded due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“I can understand that actually some of the projects lalo na sa 2020, 2021, 2022, nagkaroOn tayo ng problema sa pag-implement ng projects during those times because of the pandemic… Hindi ka makakuha ng materyales, things like these,” he said.

(We had problems implementing some projects, especially in 2020, 2021, and 2022 because of the pandemic... We couldn’t get materials.)

“All these things actually probably impeded ‘yung mga implementation ng mga projects. But noong pumasok kami under this administration, tinuloy-tuloy namin ‘yan,” he added. 

(All these things actually probably impeded the implementation of the projects. But when we came under this administration, we continued those projects.) 

Marcos on Friday called for a national flood control plan in the aftermath of the catastrophic floods brought about by Carina and Habagat, saying that flood control projects cannot be limited to three to five regions.  —KBK, GMA Integrated News