Joselito Malig

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flood

Agatha Gregorio

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan and several House lawmakers are in agreement that there is a need for a drainage system master plan in Metro Manila.During a DPWH briefing at the House of Representatives about flood control projects on Monday, August 4, Quezon City 4th District Rep. Jesus Manuel Suntay said the government is just wasting money if it is not spending based on a master plan.Bonoan earlier said the main problem is the drainage system in Metro Manila is old with 70 percent silted, meaning it only has 30 percent water carrying capacity. “Knowing this data, do we have a master plan? Are we following it? Dahil gumagawa tayo taon-taon ng budget. If we are not spending it based on a master plan then we’re wasting money,” Suntay said.Bonoan also clarified there is a master plan for the 18 major river basins, including the Pasig-Marikina river basins, but there is none for the internal drainage of the National Capital Region.House Committee on Public Accounts Chairperson Rep. Terry Ridon said they should take note that this is something they must undertake.The department held a briefing with the aforementioned House panel following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s statement at his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) against so-called failed flood control projects.In response to this, Bonoan said they will submit a list of 9,846 completed flood control projects from July 2022 to May 2025 with information on funding, start date, completion date, and status of implementation, among others.<div>SLASHED BUDGET BLOCKS DREDGING, SILTING EFFORTS</div>According to Bonoan, among the main causes of flooding is siltation, with riverbeds along rivers now being shallow.While in previous years, they tried to give district and regional offices funding for dredging equipment to address this, the budgetary allocations did not materialize. “For the last many many years, I think there has not been any concerted dredging and silting efforts. And actually, when we saw the problem, we have been trying actually to address the issue. And this is what we were trying to do actually by putting up some funds actually to equip our people, our district and regional offices to equip with dredging equipment so that the process will be done by administration in the department. But sad to say that the budgetary allocations I presented were actually– did not materialize over the years,” Bonoan said.“Now we are gonna again to raise or to put it into the budget into 2026, and hopefully, we shall then be able to get actually all the equipment that we need to start actually the silting and dredging operations especially in the principal rivers, “ he added.Bonoan earlier noted there was a massive difference in the funding for DPWH in the National Expenditure Program (NEP) compared to what was in the General Appropriations Act (GAA) in the past few years.For flood control projects in particular, the P960M in the NEP for both 2024 and 2025 NEP turned into P460M for the 2024 and 2025 GAA, based on DPWH’s Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) breakdown.Meanwhile, Senior Deputy Minority Leader Rep. Edgar Erice said they were “barking up the wrong tree” looking at flood control projects, as the real problem was in solid waste management. “And due to corruption of local governments, ang estimate po na nakokolekta na basura 30 to 40% lang– lahat ng solid waste natin napupunta sa mga creek, sa mga kanal dahil sa pagkuwestiyon sa mga contracted dredging projects ng DPWH. Pinahinto ‘yan. Pero ‘di dapat ipahinto… Bukod sa punong puno ng basura, there are 646 families– informal settlers living on top and beside of our natural waterways. ‘Yan po ‘yung problema, hindi ‘yung flood control programs,” Erice said.Erice added they would be unable to solve flooding in Metro Manila without acknowledging the “real cause,” which includes solid waste and informal settlers in waterways.<div>HOUSE LAWMAKERS SHOW SUPPORT FOR BONOAN</div>Following a call from Bacolod Rep. Albee Benitez for Bonoan to resign while an investigation on flood control projects is ongoing, some House lawmakers defended the DPWH chief.Southern Leyte 1st District Rep. Roger Mercado said he will ask Congress to defend Bonoan if sectors say the DPWH head should go on a leave of absence. Talking about Bonoan, Mercado said, “He is already doing something to alleviate this flood problem, so I really object and reject any insinuation at this point in time to make changes in our department… I can vouch for his integrity and technical capability.”Ridon then clarified the committee is not asking Bonoan to take a leave as it is important for the government to work together.Erice, meanwhile, said a leave is not necessary.But the House lawmaker proposed that a third party evaluation be done to assess the projects.Bonoan reiterated during the briefing that he is willing to take a leave of absence should the chief executive ask him to do so.

Bonoan said the main problem is the drainage system in Metro Manila is old with 70 percent silted, meaning it only has 30 percent water carrying capacity.

Bonoan said the main problem is the drainage system in Metro Manila is old with 70 percent silted, meaning it only has 30 percent water carrying capacity.

DPWH chief, House lawmakers want drainage system master plan for Metro Manila

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DPWH chief, House lawmakers want drainage system master plan for Metro Manila

Agatha Gregorio,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 04, 2025 06:31 PM PHT

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