De Lima criticisms ‘inaccurate, misleading’ – DOTr, DPWH

Sen. Leila de Lima should get her facts straight, the DOTr and DPWH said. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

Two government agencies urged Sen Leila De Lima on Tuesday to “get her facts straight” after her remarks on the administration’s “Build Build Build” program.

Filing a Senate Resolution No. 927, De Lima called for a Senate probe on the Build Build Build project, citing that the construction of the P23 billion North Luzon Expressway—South Luzon Expressway (NLEX-SLEX) Connector Road Project and the P171 billion North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) Project would displace 180,000 families in Metro Manila.

“Some residents of Sampaloc, Manila, have long been apprehensive of their forcible eviction and relocation to give way for the construction of these projects. They have repeatedly stressed that the concerned agencies have failed to adequately consult with them concerning the right-of-way negotiations,” she added.

READ: De Lima seeks Senate probe of 2 ‘Build, Build, Build’ projects

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Department of Public Ways and Highways (DPWH) said that the statement of the detained senator was “inaccurate and misleading”

The DOTr noted that the NSCR general project that De Lima cited consist of four different projects, namely PNR Clark 1, PNR Clark 2, PNR Calamba, and PNR Bicol.

Despite the huge scope of the NSCR project, the department said that this would not affect the 38 barangays in Manila, contrary to the claim of De Lima.

It also said that the four phases of the NSCR Project are separately financed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and China, “a fact conveniently missed by the good Senator.”

“The DOTr and DPWH stress that contrary to what the good Senator may have intentionally or unintentionally misstated, the Informal Settler Families (ISF) affected by the NSCR Projects are not confined to 38 Barangays in Manila, but are rather spread across Region III (Central Luzon), National Capital Region, Region IV-A (CALABARZON), and Region V (Bicol),” the two agencies said in a joint statement.

“It is also stressed that contrary to the Senator’s figures, the estimated number of likely affected ISFs is 344 for PNR Clark 1; 1,173 for PNR Clark 2; 11,384 for PNR Calamba; and 1,700 for the NLEX-SLEX Connector Project. For PNR Bicol, the previous estimate of 79,531 ISFs will be greatly reduced because of the DOTr and PNR’s approach of exploring re-alignments to avoid displacement of persons, to minimize conflict with road traffic and structures, and to straighten curves to achieve faster operating speeds.” it added.

Both the DPWH and the DOTr also said that the acquisition of the right of way for the NLEX-SLEX Connector Road and NSCR project are guided by the provisions of the Right of Way Act (RA 10752) and the Urban Development Housing Act (RA 7279)

The two departments then vowed that the projects of the administration would provide “better life” to the public once finished.

“The DOTr and the DPWH, under the Duterte Administration, remain steadfast in its goal of giving a better life for all Filipinos, and will not be diverted by criticisms anchored on false and misleading data,” it said. /cbb