By Wilnard Bacelonia | Philippine News Agency
More funding is needed for the dredging and desilting of principal rivers to boost the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) flood control initiatives all over the country, DPWH Sec. Manuel Bonoan told senators on Thursday.
During an inquiry by the Senate Committee on Public Works, Bonoan recalled that the DPWH has been proposing a budget for dredging and desilting operations since 2023, but always failed to have it included in the General Appropriations Act (GAA).
“We do not have enough even to maintain the dredging equipment at this time,” Bonoan said.
He added that when they took over in July 2022, he found out that no dredging or desilting operations had been conducted over the past few years.
“This is the reason why ’yong lahat ng major rivers natin are silted and the river beds have become very shallow to a point that any downpour, mag-o-overflow po yung riverbanks,” Bonoan explained.
Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., who chairs the panel, also recalled asking Bonoan to procure new dredging equipment and urged other senators to ensure that this procurement will push through in the coming budget deliberations.
“’Yon siguro yung dapat babantayan sa Committee on Appropriations or Finance, na bakit nangyari ’yon na hindi na dapat mangyari sa susunod. Sa bicam siguro ’yan dapat pag-usapan nang mabuti at ipaglaban niyo din, Secretary,” Revilla said.
Meanwhile, Sen. Joel Villanueva maintained his confidence in Bonoan in leading the DPWH and implementing its projects, especially the flood control initiatives.
“I don’t see anyone who can lead DPWH other than you. We trust you since last year and the day you assumed office and sana huwag niyo po kaming biguin, Secretary,” Villanueva said.
Several senators called for the inquiry, stressing the fact that the national government spent P244.47 billion for 5,500 flood projects since 2022, but many seemed irrelevant after the onslaught of Typhoon Carina which submerged Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and parts of Calabarzon.
The Public Works secretary told senators that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has already instructed all concerned government agencies that flood control should be done “holistically and in [an] integrated manner.”
“In other words, kailangan po everybody will have to dance the same tune in implementing the flood master plans and everything,” Bonoan said.
The DPWH chief also shared that President Marcos asked the said agencies to integrate water-impounding facilities in their flood control projects.
