Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva says he has raised his concern on perennial flooding in Metro Manila and other parts of the country since 2016 during deliberations on the budgets of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and other concerned agencies. Villanueva made this manifestation during Tuesday’s plenary session, August 1, 2023, noting that the budget of the DPWH for flood management program for this year amounts to P183 billion. (Voltaire Domingo/Senate PRIB)
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Joel Villanueva on Friday questioned the P215.6 billion budget allotted for flood prevention projects, specifically, why no projects ever actually get completed.
“Imagine P182 billion this year, next year P215.6 billion, nag-increase ng budget ng flood control natin ng 17.8 percent – almost 20 percent?” said Senate Majority Leader Villanueva in an interview with reporters.
“Kahit naman sa harap ng pangulo kaya kong sabihin iyon because in the past four decades, past probably five, six administrations, hindi talaga, hindi talaga nabubuo, walang pakinabang ito, nasasayang ang salapi ng bayan,” he added.
(Even in front of the President I can say that, because in the past four decades, past probably five, six administrations, nothing really gets developed, it’s useless, the people’s money is being wasted.)
Villanueva shared that even President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. himself agreed with him during a dinner meeting on Wednesday, adding that the President recognized the hearing the Senate is set to conduct involving flooding.
The hearing, according to Villanueva, is already set on August 9.
“Kasi nga parepareho ito. Nasasayang ba talaga ang pondo natin? Kasi nga we’re increasing the budget of flood control, of another P215.6 billion pesos, part of the P5.76 trillion budget, which we will be tackling soon,” said Villanueva.
(Because it’s the same. Are our funds really wasted? Because we’re increasing the budget of flood control, of another P215.6 billion pesos part of the P5.76 trillion budget, which we will be tackling soon)
He pointed out how much money the government is losing in these projects without any actual improvement in usual flooded areas seen.
“Lahat ng ito ay dapat talagang mapag usapan. Malaman natin, ano ba talaga ang naging response ng gobyerno for the past so many years, and ano talaga yung plano,” Villanueva added.
(All of this should really be discussed. Let’s find out, what was the government’s response for the past so many years, and what is the plan.) – with reports from Ivana Romero, trainee