Ban on construction of houses along waterways sought

MANILA, Philippines - A party-list lawmaker has filed a bill banning the construction of houses along riverbanks and waterways to prevent severe flooding in urban areas.

House Bill 4938, authored by AGHAM party-list Rep. Angelo Palmones, imposes a fine of P50,000 or less and imprisonment of six months on barangay captains who allow the building of shanties along rivers and waterways.

The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and local government units (LGUs) are mandated to demolish all existing houses or shanties found along waterways in urban areas.

The bill, however, permits the building of houses 10 meters away from the shoreline of waterways.

Palmones noted that severe flooding caused by the blocking of waterways by houses killed thousands in Ormoc City, Leyte on Nov. 6, 1991 and in Metro Manila during the onslaught of typhoon “Ondoy” in 2009.

Citing the study of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), he said the flooding in Ormoc was caused by the construction of houses along the riverbank of the Anilao River.

“The study showed that the houses along the Anilao River constricted the pathway of the water. This accumulated debris along the river temporarily dammed the rushing floodwaters. Eventually when the dam broke, the floodwaters carried with it the houses along the riverbanks. This caused the death of more than 8,000 persons,” Palmones said.