Senate to probe Metro Manila flood projects

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate will probe various flood control projects in Metro Manila in the wake of frequent flooding incidents in the country’s capital and surrounding areas even after only a brief rainfall.

The probe was prompted by a resolution filed by Sen. Bong Revilla on the status and viability of the country’s flood control master plan and pending projects under the direct implementation of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

Revilla is expected to chair the Senate committee on public works in the 19th Congress, which will open next week.

He said the inquiry would ensure that the government has a “comprehensive and cost-efficient solution to the flooding problem, which would immediately bring relief to the public.

It also aims to identify urgent interventions to improve mitigations of adverse effects to communities and prevent similar disasters in the future.”

“Just recently, residents of Metro Manila were surprised when parts of the metro were swamped with flash floods after only a few hours of heavy downpour. Many remained impassable for a few hours, and some streets became too unsafe for vehicles to traverse,” Revilla stated in Senate Resolution 52.

He said the situation is unfolding as the Philippines remains one of the most cyclone-prone countries with approximately 20 typhoons entering its area of responsibility every year.

He said the severe cyclones and heavy rainfall are exacerbated by unabated urbanization and logging that he said affect an estimated 176,000 Filipinos annually and leave some $625-million damage to agriculture and infrastructure.

The DPWH and the MMDA have a combined allocation of more than P125 billion for flood control based on this year’s national budget.

The Commission on Audit (COA) reported that 22 projects of the MMDA were unfinished and 39 others were not completed within the contract period as of end-2021 due to inadequate planning.

Revilla cited MMDA’s defense that the projects flagged by COA were substantially completed as of 2022.