Cayetano bucks P2-B megadike

A House leader questioned yesterday the plan of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to build a P2-billion mega dike in the heart of Taguig instead of erecting it alongside the Laguna de Bay to prevent floodings in the town and in nearby Pateros.

Assistant Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said he could not understand why the DPWH would build an inland dike and sacrifice more than 1,300 hectares of prime land comprising 10 out of the 18 barangay communities in Taguig, together with the residents of these villages.

"They will wipe out nearly half of the booming town of Taguig to protect the remaining eight barangays. Why can't we protect the entire town by moving the dike closer to Laguna de Bay?" he asked.

He said he is not against the dike construction project and that he is in fact for it. "What I question is the alignment, the plan to build it inland and to give up on protecting the perennially flooded barangay villages," he added.

Cayetano and Taguig officials have written their objections to the project to DPWH Secretary Gregorio Vigilar, but were told that the proposed alignment would cost the government an additional P500 million.

Besides, DPWH officials said it would be difficult to protect the 10 barangay communities from flooding as these are always flooded.

Cayetano said he cannot accept such an argument "because it means that the government is giving up on protecting tens of thousands of residents in those villages, along with their land and other properties."

He said Vigilar is worrying about an additional P500 million, but won't have no qualms "wasting P2 billion on a useless project, which would shield areas which are less prone to flooding." --