Lawmaker seeks P600 B for flood control program

MANILA, Philippines - Re-elected Iloilo City Rep. Jerry Treñas said yesterday he would re-file a bill that seeks P600 billion for flood control infrastructure in Metro Manila and neighboring areas.

He said he would revive a proposed law filed by the late Bohol Rep. Erico Aumentado which urged Congress to fund a comprehensive flood mitigation program for Metro Manila, Central Luzon and the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) region.

He said Aumentado’s proposal was for annual funding of up to a total of P600 billion until the year 2040. That would mean an average of P26.1 billion a year if Congress approves the bill this year and provides the needed funds in the 2014 national budget.

Last week, Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson announced that the National Economic and Development Authority has approved his agency’s P352-billion flood control master plan for Metro Manila.

He said the government would provide an initial P5 billion, with the bulk of the funding to be sourced from loans, including official development assistance.

He said the plan would entail the construction of 11 huge flood control infrastructure projects and would benefit at least 1.2 million people.

Treñas said his bill would include heavier penalties for squatters on riverbanks and people and business entities that pollute creeks, canals and other waterways.

“I think that it is about time that we take a tougher position against squatting and against disposing of garbage on our waterways. The only way to stop this flooding problem is to make sure that all of our water tributaries are free from obstruction,” he said.

He noted that there are many factories located along the Pasig River and other waterways in Metro Manila partly because it is easier for them to dump their wastes into these rivers.

He said there would be stiffer penalties for the owners of these establishments and for people who squat along waterways.