Arroyo, House panel to probe, address Iloilo flooding issues

MANILA, Philippines – Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will convene the House oversight committee on disaster management to study the possible expansion of the Iloilo City Flood Control Project in a bid to address the perennial flooding in Passi City. Iloilo.

Arroyo announced the move during her ocular inspection and briefing of her Iloilo City flood control project in Barangay Buhang in Jaro, Iloilo.

She said she would tap House members who are not running or are running unopposed to conduct the hearing.

“I don’t want to get in the way of their campaign. If I don’t find anyone who is not running or running unopposed, I will chair it myself,” she said.

Arroyo earlier vowed to continue the conduct of oversight hearings during the Congress recess to make sure that laws passed in Congress are properly implemented.

Arroyo was in Passi City and Iloilo City on Sunday and Monday to attend various events together with Iloilo City Rep. Jerry Treñas, Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Sr., Passi City Mayor Jesry Palmares, and other public works and barangay officials.

The P5.5-billion Iloilo Flood Control Project covers the construction of the Jaro Floodway, the improvement of the Tigum and Aganan Rivers, as well as improvements of the Jaro River mouth, the Iloilo River and Upper Ingore Creek.

The project was completed in 2011. /gsg