House bill filed vs construction on flood-, landslide-prone areas

NATURE’S WRATH Debris are scattered near destroyed houses in Cagayan de Oro on December18, 2011, a day after Typhoon Washi wrought havoc in the city. Philippine rescuers strived with mud, fatigue and the stench of death Sunday, December 18, 2011, to help dazed survivors of devastating flash floods that have killed over 532 people. AFP PHOTO/TED ALJIBE

MANILA, Philippines — A lawmaker has proposed a measure to prohibit construction along areas prone to flood and landslide.

Southern Leyte Representative Roger Mercado has proposed House Bill 5791which seeks to impose stiff penalties to those who construct structures on such areas, saying that in such a move, people were “ignoring a natural warning from floods, just like living at the foot of landslide-prone mountain slopes.”

Offenders face imprisonment of six months up to one year while the juridical entities, Mercado said.

It mandates the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) or
their respective attached agencies to lead in implementing the measure in coordination with local government units.

It will be DPWH’s responsibility to monitor landslide and flood-prone for any signs of construction and to report any violations to the Philippine National Police for apprehension, said Mercado. Maps on the said areas will be provided by DENR to DPWH.

He said that the recent disasters in Cagayan and Iligan indicated a trend on the loss of lives and properties when people ignore natural disaster warnings–things which “could have been prevented by the authorities given an enabling legislation.”