DPWH admits lack of nat'l masterplan for flood control

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Thursday admitted at a Senate hearing the lack of national flood control masterplan in the country.

DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan admitted this during the interpellation of Senator Imee Marcos and after he reported that the 5,521 completed flood control projects were "immediate relief projects for flood mitigation" during the Senate public works inquiry on flooding in several parts of the country brought about by previous tropical cyclones, including the last week's Super Typhoon Carina.

Bonoan also said that several masterplans in the 18 major river basins are already existing when the Marcos administration took over. They are now currently being updated to take into account the climate change phenomenon and other factors, he added.

"So there's an admission on the part of the DPWH that in fact a national flood control masterplan still does not exist? Tama po ba yon? Kasi hiwa-hiwalay yung 18. Di naman sila pinagdugtong-dugtong. Hindi pa naka-align sa MMDA. Merong sari-sarili rin at pira-piraso 'yung ating LGU," Marcos asked.

(Is that right? Because there are 18 separate masterplans and they are not aligned with the MMDA. The local government units have their own.)

In response, Bonoan said, "To some extent that's correct, Madam Senator. But what I am saying is actually there [have] been masterplans before that were carried out and...that [are] now being updated."

Bonoan also answered in the affirmative when asked if the 5,521 completed flood control projects were just "patched together,", explaining that these are standalone projects to provide immediate relief to low-lying areas in the country.

"Tama po ba ang pagkaintindi ko, immediate relief lang po? So tagpi-tagpi na naman tayo, patse-patse na naman?" Marcos asked, to which Bonoan responded, "Tama po (That's correct)."

(Is my understanding right, that they are only for immediate relief? That they are patches only?)

Marcos also asked where the billions of public funds for flood control went.

"How do you choose the projects? Are there guidelines and parameters each time that you submit these billions and billions of request? To what do you allocate if there is no integrated masterplan for the country?" the senator asked.

Bonoan likewise confirmed that under the 2024 national budget, the allocations for foreign-assisted extensive flood control projects were lodged under unprogrammed funds.  

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

Due to this, a state of calamity has been declared in the National Capital Region and nearby provinces.

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. —KBK, GMA Integrated News