Pangilinan: Audit flood control funds

MANILA, Philippines — As the enhanced southwest monsoon continues to inundate communities, Sen. Francis Pangilinan is demanding a full accounting of public funds poured into flood control projects and the immediate development of a comprehensive national flood management plan.

Heavy rains over the past week have submerged several parts of Metro Manila and nearby provinces, displacing thousands and paralyzing classes, work and transportation.

Pangilinan called for a complete inventory of projects detailing their locations, costs, contractors, implementation status and actual results on the ground.

To solve the crisis, Pangilinan pushed for a science-based, preventive and long-term national flood management plan that accounts for climate change, rather than disjointed local band-aid solutions.

‘Far from over’

Public furor over the flood control mess will not go anytime soon due to the perennial problem of flooding worsened by corruption, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said yesterday.

“After a heavy downpour leaves flooded streets and yards, people will not be short on words in cursing politicians, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials and contractors unless – and this is probably – genuine retribution and restitution become the order of the day no matter who were involved,” Lacson posted on X.

Blacklisted contractors

Blacklisting erring contractors in the flood control controversy has started bearing fruit as key infrastructure projects are on the right track, Presidential Legislative Officer Joey Salceda said.

Citing the DPWH’s quarterly physical report of operations, Salceda said infrastructure reforms are showing impressive results in several key project-completion indicators.

“The President has addressed procurement, contractor performance and project monitoring. We must now address the financing side. The government cannot clean up the contractor pool and then leave legitimate contractors without sufficient working capital,” he noted.

Salceda proposed expanding the Development Bank of the Philippines’ infrastructure contractor support program and Landbank’s contractor-financing facilities.

PhilGuarantee coverage can be expanded to allow government and private banks to share the credit risk of lending to qualified contractors, Salceda said.

Periodic floods

Recurring floods in the Philippines reveal not just an engineering problem, but also governance, environmental and civic issues, the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines said

Flagging the shortness of people’s political memory, CEAP pointed out that “public outrage over alleged corruption can be intense during a flood or investigation, yet during elections, the same personalities, political families, networks or allies may return to power.” — Marc Jayson Cayabyab, Delon Porcalla, Bella Cariaso

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