EDITORIAL - Disintegration

Weather forecasters officially declared the start of the rainy season on June 8, with Tropical Storm Domeng ushering in the period that lasts several months. Students and office workers were sent home and several flights were canceled as Domeng, combined with the southwest monsoon, brought heavy rains that spawned floods and mudslides.

In several areas including Metro Manila, flooding also created potholes that will continue to aggravate traffic jams in the coming days. The road ruts snarled traffic along several major thoroughfares in the mega city amid Domeng’s rains. And this is just after a storm. What happens when the strong typhoons and heavier monsoons hit?

Why do Philippine road pavements disintegrate in the rain? The government has been designing roads with an overlay of asphalt that can be quickly repaired in case ruts form during floods. Even an overlay, however, should be durable enough to survive at least the first storm of the season with minimal damage.

Studies conducted by the World Bank have linked the quality of roads to corruption and the state of governance particularly in developing countries. The Duterte administration, which professes to give priority to fighting corruption, should promote greater accountability in road construction and maintenance.

In recent years, efforts have been made to clearly identify those responsible for road projects – both the private contractors and the supervising government officials. After scandals involving bid-rigging for World Bank-funded projects, vetting of private contractors is also supposed to have been tightened, especially for projects financed through official development assistance.

The road damage spawned by the first mild storm of the season, however, shows that more reforms are needed. Tighter supervision is needed especially for road projects endorsed by politicians, particularly at the local level, who might have demanded a say in the selection of the contractor.

Damaged roads not only create traffic gridlocks but also cost taxpayers billions every year in precious funds. The government must see to it that those funds are used judiciously, and that road quality is not being eroded by incompetence, negligence or corruption.