Palace: Flooding to ease in 2015
AP FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – With many provinces submerged in floods during the last two weather disturbances, the government on Monday assured that flooding would ease in 2015.
“Ang target date for completion date for all (flood control projects) is August next year,” Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said during a televised briefing.
(The target completion date for all flood control projects is August next year.)
She said many projects have already been completed but some are still undergoing construction.
Not all could easily be finished because of the partial construction, which takes into consideration the resulting traffic.
Construction despite DAP
Valte said the projects would press ahead despite the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) which has been declared partly unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
“Yung iba po sinikap ng DPWH na ilagay sa kanilang proposal for 2015. So hinahanapan naman po ng alternative funding source,” she said.
(The Department of Public Works and Highways tried to include funds in its budget proposal for 2015. We are also looking for alternative funding source.)
She explained that the main causes of floods are clogged waterways, small drainages and improper disposal of garbage.
Pro-active
Valte said Aquino, who will give a speech at the United Nation’s Climate Summit in New York on Sept. 23, is pro-active when it comes to climate change.
“You see it in his actions,” she said, adding that Aquino is the first president to form a Cabinet cluster on climate change to ensure that agencies partake in related programs.
“We are pursuing (climate change) on many fronts,” she said.
Although Aquino is still in the United States, Valte explained that he has been briefed on the situation in the country and had instructed them to ensure that all provinces receive proper assistance.
She said among the priorities are the restoration of electricity and ensuring that all roads are passable.
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