Puno urges government to pursue flood control project for CAMANAVA

Former Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman Ricardo "Dong" Puno Jr. has called on the government to pursue a multi-million peso flood control project that will cover the cities of Caloocan and Valenzuela and the towns of Navotas and Malabon, collectively known as the Camanava area, to help ease the plight of these perennially submerged communities and the urban woes of the rest of Metro Manila’s residents.

In various engagements in this area, Puno said funds have already been set aside for the Camanava flood control and drainage project, with the Japanese government pitching in by providing financial aid through official development assistance amounting to P37.28 million for this year.

"The government should pursue this ambitious dike project as well as other flood control projects if it is serious in addressing the urban woes of Metro Manila," he said. "It should immediately release the programmed funds for this project."

Puno and other senatorial candidates of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino held a daylong series of motorcades and rallies in Malabon and Navotas as part of the opposition ticket’s weekend sorties in Metro Manila.

Local funding through the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for the Camanava project totaling P15.1 million has been allocated for Caloocan under the 2000 national budget; P7.25 million for Malabon and Navotas; and P6.5 million for Valenzuela.