Residents of Tumana Village in Marikina deal with heavy flooding on July 24, 2024 as heavy rains brought about by the southwest monsoon and enhanced by Typhoon Carina flooded many parts of Metro Manila. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

The Senate will investigate current flood control systems as Senate President Francis Escudero pressed the government on how it spent its flood control budget after massive floods inundated parts of Metro Manila and surrounding areas these past few days.

Escudero also questioned the effectiveness of flood control measures and the use of the substantial budget allocated for these projects. 

He said around P255 billion was allocated for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) flood control projects in the P5.768-trillion national budget for 2024, which Escudero previously criticized as disproportionately large compared to other critical sectors.

“Anong nangyari sa daan-bilyon na flood control projects ng DPWH, MMDA at mga lokal na pamahalaan?” Escudero asked in a statement.

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Escudero revealed that the Senate Committee on Public Works, chaired by Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., will conduct an inquiry to uncover the reasons behind the apparent inefficacy of the flood control projects despite the substantial funding. 

The Senate chief said the inquiry aims to assess the current state of the flood control systems and develop actionable solutions to ensure that the substantial investments in these projects yield the intended results—protecting communities from flooding and mitigating the impact of severe weather events. 

Citing last year’s budget deliberations, Escudero noted that the P255 billion budget for flood control far exceeded the allocations for irrigation (P31 billion), the construction of new hospitals, and even the capital outlay budgets of the Department of Agriculture (P40.13 billion) and the Department of Health (P24.57 billion). 

Likewise, the Senate chief pointed out that the flood control budget surpassed the proposed budgets of entire departments, including the Department of National Defense (P232.2 billion) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (P209.9 billion). 

Escudero wants a thorough investigation into the government’s flood control projects in light of the severe flooding despite multibillion-peso allocations every year. 

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“With Metro Manila now under a state of calamity and the government now working to address the damage wrought by Typhoon Carina, we should also work to determine why—over a decade after Typhoon Ondoy—chronic, severe flooding continues to afflict the nation’s capital,” he said.

He added: “Swaths of NCR are flooded so work and classes are suspended; we deploy our frontliners who rescue and evacuate affected families; generous volunteers and groups organize donation efforts and distribute aid; after the rains end, we assess the costs of the damage and evacuees are sent home. Repeat.” 

“Ganito na lang ba palagi? Tatanggapin na lang natin na kapag malakas ang ulan, magbabaha at mapaparalisa ang ikot ng buhay natin? Anong nangyari sa ‘building back better’?” Escudero asked.

Senator Joel Villanueva had similar sentiments.

"We’ve been looking into because we are talking about P 1 billion a day for the past two years. Unfortunately, during the SONA, we heard about the 5,000 plus (flood control programs) statement by the President. It appears that he is being misled by some people around him so we have to look into it. Where is it? Sabi nila 60% has been completed. Pag tinanong mo sa ground kasi okay lang siguro na yung hanggang bewang ay hanggang bukong bukong nalang. Hindi po, eh. Yung hanggang bewang naging hanggang lampas tao. Yun po ang nais nating tignan," he said. 

"I’ve already spoken with the Senate President. On Monday, I will be delivering a privilege speech in the Senate, " Villanueva said. "Definitely we have to investigate on this. It is unacceptable to hear n amalakas kasi ang ulan at madami at madami ang tubig. Hindi po yun dahilan. ‘Pag gumawa ka ng proyekto, sasabihin mo ba sa akin na hindi mo inanticipate na uulan? Hindi mo inanticipate na may bagyo? Lagi namang may bagyo sa Pilipinas. Twenty typhoons on average ever single year na nag-vi-visit sa ating bansa. That’s the floor, not even the ceiling."

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"Ang importante rito nakikita natin where it’s going. Namomonitor ba natin yung P 1 billion a day for the past two years? Nasaan na yun? That’s the essence of the investigation. Buong Pilipinas yung ating nirerepresent. Hindi lang Bulacan. Masakit lang dito being a Bulakenyo, is that it has worsened. Parang naging dating inutil na yung gobyerno pati kami sa Senado para kaming naging inutil dahil wala eh. Pondo kami ng pondo taon taon pero hindi naming nakikita yung improvement. Hindi nararamdaman ng bayan, " Villanueva said. "We have to ask the DPWH because they are the implementing agency. It’s one agency that we are looking at right now. But remember, this is the entire government. DENR has flood control programs. MMDA has flood control programs. DA has flood control programs. " 

"The funds are there. It has been released. It has actually been spent. That’s why we have to look kasi andun eh. Nagastos eh. Nasaan yung nagastos. Mahirap eh. If you say, let’s do a flood control program. Mag dredge tayo. Humukay tayo ng konti. Wala namang nagcheck kung gaano kalalim yung hinukay. Isang pala lang yung hinukay. Dapat ipakulong natin yung mga yun. I mean heads should roll," Villanueva added.

Senator Nancy Binay also scored the spending on flood control as these have been ineffective.

"Despite the significant funds allocated to DPWH's and MMDA's flood control programs, it is evident that these measures have failed to produce the necessary improvements to safeguard our communities. It is deeply concerning that, in this age of advanced technology and substantial resources, our flood management systems remain painfully inadequate," Binay said.

Former Public Works and Highways secretary and now Senator Mark Villar wants to study the causes of flooding, baring plans to file his own resolution seeking an inquiry. 

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 "Kailangan po siguro na pag-aralan kung ano ang sanhi ng pagbaha. Nakita namin first time na bumaha ang Senado. kakausapin ko ang DPWH, gusto ko ring malaman kung anong bago bakit bumaha sa Senado at mag mga ibang areas, marami, nakita natin yung effect so kailangan malaman natin kaagad kung ano ang naging cause," Villar said in a press release. "Yung mga agecy natin alam ko inaalam na rin nila pero ako sa a former secretary ng DPWH siyamepre aalamin at tatanungi ko rin kung ano ang mga causes ng baha. ANo pang kailangan gawin upang di na ulit mangyari ang ganitong pangyayari."

Escudero called on the DPWH and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to put an end to chronic flooding in Metro Manila.

He said the DPWH and MMDA must collaborate with local government units in inspecting flooded areas to recommend medium- and long-term solutions to prevent and avoid flooding.

Earlier, Senator JV Ejercito slammed flood control projects for not being planned and executed well after Metro Manila and surrounding areas suffered from floods due to torrential rains the past few days.

"Its hard to stomach that there is a 300B budget for flood control each year and its seems that projects on flood control are not well planned and executed. Pag patuloy ang pag gawa ng mga 'flood control' projects na patchi patchi ay walang mangyayayari nagtatapon lang tayo ng pera," Ejercito said.   

Ejercito said he has been pushing for a comprehensive masterplan for infrastructure development, aside from transportation modernization, to include high impact flood mitigation and control projects.

"Ang kailangan ay mga high impact or big ticket flood control projects para magkaroon ng resulta hindi ang pinaghahatian ang pondo para lang masabi na may mga proyekto...mega dikes and big water impounding infrastructures are what is needed," Ejercito added.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian wants flood control projects  to be redesigned to consider the rapid urbanization and high population density of  Metro Manila.

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"Drainage systems should be enlarged, waterways should be dredged and unimpeded and dam management should be seamlessly coordinated. I also noticed that PAGASA did not warn the LGUs early enough that's why our constituents were trapped inside their homes." Gatchalian said in a text message to reporters.

Citing his observations in his home turf of Valenzuela, Gatchalian said that the massive flooding in his city and Metro Manila was caused by a culminating of 3 events: massive rainfall, high tide and overflowing of water in the dams and upstream.

Both Ejercito and Gatchalian were mayors of their respective home turfs--Ejercito in San Juan and Gatchalian in Valenzuela.

Lower House probe

In the lower House, House Assistant Minority Leader and Gabriela Women's Party Rep. Arlene Brosas wants an explanation on the persistent flooding despite billions of pesos allocated for flood control projects.

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"The disconnect between the administration's claims and the reality on the ground is alarming. Bilyun-bilyong pondo ang nilalagak daw para sa flood control projects pero taon-taon ding nagdurusa ang mamamayan sa walang humpay na baha tuwing tag-ulan. Kailangang malaman ng taumbayan saan napupunta ang pondong ito," she said in a statement.

"For years, we've seen corruption-tainted and ineffective flood control projects. We need to put an end to this cycle that only serves to line the pockets of corrupt officials while leaving our people vulnerable to disasters."

Brosas vowed to “scrutinize every peso” of the budget for flood control projects.

Senators seek better flood control measures 

 House Committee on Metro Manila Development Chairperson and Manila 2nd District Representative Rolando Valeriano also called for the panel to convene on July 31 and assess the widespread flooding and extensive damage broughtby typhoon Carina, especially in the NCR. 

Valeriano wants the DPWH and the MMDA to explain the existing flood control systems were not able to prevent the flooding. He also urged relevant government agencies to present a plan to prevent flooding from typhoons.

“Una po sa lahat, kailangang magbigay ng paliwanag ng ating mga ahensya, gaya ng DPWH at ng MMDA, kung bakit hindi kinaya ng ating flood control systems ang buhos ng ulan ni bagyong Carina. Totoo po na record breaking ang rainfall na dinulot ng bagyong ito, subalit dapat ay may kahandaan na tayo sa ganito. Expect the worst lagi, ika nga,” he said in a statement.

House Speaker Martin Romualdez expressed support for the call, saying it is part of the lower chamber’s oversight functions to determine whether budget allocation for government projects were used efficiently, and whether there is a need to demand accountability.

 “We also have to have accountabilities sa tamang paggastos ng ating budget, so titingnan natin kung effective, efficient at sana naman, kung may nangyayari dati na hindi tamang mga paggastos, hindi talaga pwede ‘yun, s'yempre may accountability,” he told the media in an interview on the sidelines of his relief operations.

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“We really have to revisit not just the masterplans, we have to update the master plans, fully implement them, seek consideration for some relocation sites,” the House Speaker added.

The southwest monsoon enhanced by Typhoon Carina dumped heavy rains in the country’s capital and nearby provinces on Wednesday, triggering floods, killing at least 12 people, and displacing over 600,000 individuals.