Metro Manila, Philippines — Senate President Chiz Escudero wants the Senate to investigate flood control projects after typhoon Carina and the southwest monsoon battered Metro Manila and other areas with heavy rains that resulted in flooding.
Ganito na lang ba tayo palagi? Tatanggapin na lang natin na pag malakas ang ulan magbabaha at paralisado ang normal/regular na buhay ni natin?
What happened to “building back better?
Dapat, sa panahong ito, di na pwede ang pwede na at di na pwede ang dating gawi…
— Chiz Escudero (@SayChiz) July 25, 2024
On Thursday, July 25, Escudero questioned the capability of drainage systems in the capital region amid the allocation of billions of pesos for flood control projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, and local governments.
“The Senate, led by [your committee] chair of public works, Sen. Bong Revilla, will seek to answer these questions & more with a view to finding solutions to the problem & preventing a repeat!” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “We can start with the 26 national roads that were flooded & work our way to all local roads.”
Senators Joel Villanueva and Imee Marcos also supported an inquiry into the multibillion-peso flood control projects.
“Unfortunately, during the SONA (State of the Nation Address), we heard about the 5,000 plus (flood control programs) statement by the president,” Villanueva said. “It appears that he is being misled by some people around him so we have to look into it. Where is it? Sabi nila [They say] 60% has been completed.”
The combined effects of tropical depression Butchoy, typhoon Carina, and the southwest monsoon dumped heavy rains in parts of the country in the past days.
The entire Metro Manila was placed under a state of calamity on Wednesday. — Jelo Ritzhie Mantaring
