Bulacan gov demands accountability over flooding

MALOLOS CITY ,Philippines  – Bulacan Gov. Wilhelmino Alvarado vowed to hold someone responsible for the massive flooding in the province but has not decided when to file a class suit against the National Power Corp. (Napocor) which manages Angat Dam.

“Dapat may papanagutin, di pwede na lahat ng paggawa ng di maganda ay palalampasin,” Alvarado said in an interview over Central Luzon TV 36 Thursday night.

However, he said their lawyers are still gathering more evidence against Napocor.

Alvarado said his wife, Rep. Marivic Alvarado of the first congressional district of Bulacan, filed a bill in Congress to define the responsibilities and obligations of dam operators.

“One thing good about that bill is the penal clause, para may managot,” the governor said.

He also expressed disappointment with a high official for mocking the misery of the people of Bulacan when the towns of Paombong, Hagonoy and Calumpit are under at least four feet of floodwaters.

“Nagtatawa pa eh, lubog na ang mga bayan ng Hagonoy, Calumpit at Paombong. That’s totally uncalled for,” he said without identifying the high official.

Vice Gov. Daniel Fernando expressed the same sentiment. “Ang sabi ay galing daw sa langit yung kalamidad, tapos tumawa pa.”

Accounting of calamity fund sought

A former board member of Bulacan, meanwhile, sought a detailed breakdown of how the province’s P93-milion calamity fund was spent following the floods brought by typhoons "Pedring" and "Quiel."

In a statement, Teofilo Rivera, chairman of the Bulacan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said Bulakeños have the right to know what happened to the money, citing what he described as “pathetic quantity of relief goods received by floods victims and the turtle-like speed of the distribution.”

Rivera also cited reports alleging that scores of residents in the towns of Calumpit, Hagonoy, Paombong, Pulilan and Obando towns waited for several days before they received relief goods.

“Why did it take several days for the provincial government to declare a state of calamity in the province? Where is the calamity fund? The calamity fund is for victims of calamities. That’s where it should be spent. It’s our taxes. It’s our money. It was us who were affected, displaced or had starved during the floods,” he said.

Rivera also asked for proof of claims by the provincial government that P32 million worth of relief goods have already been given to typhoon victims.