Suspension of public works projects aggravated floods, says solon

MANILA, Philippines — Did the Aquino government’s cancellation of public works contracts approved by the previous administration aggravate the floods caused by the one-two punch of Typhoons Pedring and Quiel?

Representative Danilo Suarez of Quezon wants the House of Representatives to investigate the cancellation of flood control projects that were put in place by the Arroyo administration.

Suarez, the House deputy minority leader, said funding for these projects had been stopped. But these were supposed to protect the very provinces now suffering from the effects of Pedring and Quiel.

“One cannot help but think that if these projects were not capriciously cancelled on the sole fact that they were initiated by the previous administration, then the recent floodings could have been prevented or mitigated,” Suarez said in a draft resolution he has filed calling for an investigation.

Portions of Bulacan remain under water days after Pedring and Quiel hit the country in succession.

Billions of pesos in crops and infrastructure were also damaged, leaving many farmers in despair.

Suarez, in his resolution, noted that months before the rainy season began, the administration shelved programs that were supposed to help mitigate floods.

He cited a July 28, 2010 press release from the Department of Public Works and Highways which stated that Secretary Rogelio Singson had cancelled 19 approved negotiated contracts for projects under the post-Ondoy and Pepeng Short-Term Infrastructure Rehabilitation Project.

Ondoy and Pepeng were strong cyclones that hit the country in 2009, submerging parts of Metro Manila and Northern Luzon with an unusual amount of rain.

The 19 projects cost P934.1 million and were part of package of contracts funded by a Japan International Cooperation Agency loan for the rehabilitation of the country’s flood control facilities.

“It should be emphasized that these cancelled projects were located in provinces that were severely inundated by typhoons Pedring and Quiel,” Suarez said.

He said the cancelled contracts consist of projects in Bulacan province amounting to P50million; Cordillera Administrative Region, P53 million; Ilocos Norte, P35 million; Asingan, Pangasinan, P91.4 million; San Manuel, Pangasinan, P228 million; Cagayan, P25.8 million; Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya, P68.6 million; Kayapa and Dupax Nueva Vizcaya, P27.4 million; San Felipe and Iba Zambales, P42.5 million; San Marcelino, Zambales, P19 million; Arayat, Pampanga, P77 million;
Candaba, Pampanga, P78 million; Floridablanca, Pampanga, P27 million; Guagua and Lubao, Pampanga, P16 million; Moncada and Bamban, Tarlac, P32 million; Aliaga, Nueva Ecija, P18 million; Bungabon and San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija, P19 million; and Balayan and Lemery, Batangas, P22 million.