Failure of flood control systems

The floods in Metro Manila were caused mainly by the failure of existing flood control systems to work. The CAMANAVA Flood Control Project which was started during the time of President Estrada in 1998 broke down and failed to stop the flood waters coming from the Marikina and Tullahan rivers.

Three pumping stations in Taguig stopped working due to lack of fuel. According to former DPWH Sec. Virgilio Vigilar, the CAMANAVA Flood Control Project was almost finished during President Estrada’s incumbency but it was discontinued during President Arroyo’s time because then DPWH Sec. Bayani Fernando did not believe in the project and refused to release additional funds to complete and maintain the project.

After 12 years, the project is still incomplete and much repair work needs to be done.

At least in Navotas, Mayor John Rey Tiangco had 28 pumps working and he has started to repair the broken dikes out of city funds. He said it takes too long to wait for DPWH to act.

MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino has sacked Baltazar Melgar who heads the Flood Control office for 15 years and is principally responsible for the non-completion of the CAMANAVA Flood Control Project. From an initial P1.9 billion which President Estrada received from the Obuchi fund of Japan, the cost has balooned to about P10 billion but still unfinished.

The COA and the Ombudsman should investigate this project. So much money has been spent and misspent for this project. 

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TOO LATE . . After Typhoon Ondoy, the administration promised a lot of remedial measures to prevent a repeat of the casualties and damages.

There were many pronouncements again of relocating squatters on riverbanks. There was announcement of dredging of the Pampanga River and plans to dredge Laguna de Bay. The CAMANAVA Flood Control Project was to be completed. More rubber boats and water assets had to be procured.

But the sudden flooding last week again caught the government unprepared resulting in 92 casualties affecting 441,000 persons. Once again, thousands had to go to crowded evacuation centers.

Up to now, no new plans has been completed for the dredging of Laguna de Bay after the Belgian contract was cancelled in 2010.

The proposed Parañaque spillway is still on the drawing boards.

President Aquino announced a P2 billion flood control project for Bulacan, also P212 million for Pampanga. Why the priority for Bulacan and Pampanga and not Metro Manila?

DPWH has estimated the total flood control program to cost P352 billion. Where will the money come from? It will take years to complete.

It certainly looks like many more typhoon damages and floods will happen while the government is still trying to implement the start of a flood control program.

Quezon City had learned its lesson. Mayor Bistek Bautista announced he is procuring 142 bancas for use of the barangays during floods. He should now organize a special rescue unit.

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WHERE IS IT? . . Before the 430,000 bags rice shipment was discovered, Customs Commissioner Rufino Biazon proudly announced the seizure of another 90 containers of rice also at Subic. Since they were misdeclared, they should have been seized and auctioned off.

Customs insiders now report the rice has been withdrawn. Where did it go?

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WELCOME VISITS . . The President visited evacuation centers in Marikina, Muntinlupa, Barangay Silangan, QC, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela and Caloocan. He also visited Tarlac, Pampanga, Bataan, Bulacan, Laguna and Montalban, Rizal.

This time he took charge of the emergency situation immediately.

Presidential visits to calamity areas are always welcome at it uplifts the spirit of the victims and puts officials on their toes.

It is correct though to ask why he brought along 5 senatorial bets with him. But that’s his prerogative. That’s politics as usual. 

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MORE CRIME . . Businesswoman Virginia Francisco Eras, 55, was dead inside Bell Marina Hotel in Morayta, Sampaloc. The suspect is a young foreigner named Frank who is her boyfriend.

Florencio Torres, his wife Milagros and daughter Marjorie were shot dead with a .45 caliber pistol by neighbor Charlie Balboa.

PO1 Randy Dumaquing was shot dead by Umbra Karo’s BIFF forces in Cotabato. PO1 Rommel Valera was killed and his wife wounded by 2 riding in tandem gunmen in an ambush at Barangay Bantilan, Infanta, Quezon.

The Provincial Government of Camarines Norte condemned the killing of Barangay Chairman Merlyn Biones Bernas and a 4-year-old boy in Labo, Camarines Norte.

Rachelle de Guzman, 24, a pregnant woman was stabbed to death in Valenzuela.

A Comelec supervisor was shot dead in Basilan.

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TIDBITS . . . The latest DILG governance survey rates the City of San Juan no. 1 among cities. Congratulations Mayor Guia Gomez. She also handled the flood problem in San Juan efficiently preventing casualties.

168 public schools were used as evacuation centers last week in Metro Manila. As usual, the big problem was lack of toilets. These schools will be used again in the future as evacuation centers. It is advisable to build toilet facilities now and add more rooms.

After 2 years, DOTC and MIAA finally called for bids to retrofit NAIA 3 at an estimated P212 million.

Pampanga reported 704 villages were flooded; 37 deaths were reported in Central Luzon.

Greetings to avid readers: Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario, Freddie Alquiros, Charlie and Maridol Gonzales, Arturo Garcia, Dean Cristine Concepcion, Director Debbie Diamante, Nancy Iboyen, Dean Imelda Fernandez, Dr. Simon Bugalong, Mayor Frank Calida of Hagonoy, Mayor Pedro Caminero Jr. of Padada, Vice Mayor Willie Villegas of Sulop and Vice Mayor James Gamao of Panabo City.

Happy birthday to Alaminos Mayor Nani Braganza.

Condolences to Sen. Chiz Escudero, his mother Evie and siblings on the passing away of Senior Sorsogon Congressman and former Secretary of Agriculture Salvador “Sonny” Escudero.