DPWH 'ineptitude' blamed for floods

Now the buck-passing begins.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) blamed yesterday the "ineptitude" of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for the perennial flooding of the Metropolis everytime the rainy seasons comes.

In yesterday's emergency meeting conducted by the Metro Manila Disaster Coordinating Council (MMDCC), MMDA General Manager Violeta Seva pointed an accusing finger at the failure of the DPWH's flood control management program.

The visibly irked Seva noted that year in and year out, Metro Manila streets are affected by floods everytime the typhoon season comes because the DPWH apparently does not properly do its job, despite a huge annual budget of P208 million for flood control in Metro Manila.

At least P70 million of this huge budget goes to pumping flood waters from Manila's clogged drainage systems.

Earlier in the week, DPWH officials assured the public there was no cause for alarm over floods in Metro Manila with the onset of the rainy season. DPWH-NCR Director Salvador Pleyto said that despite the early onset of the rainy season, the DPWH has "adequately prepared" for the yearly floods and pointed to the "DPWH's regular maintenance program."

MMDA chairman Jejomar Binay has long been complaining of lack of funds for the flood control project, forcing the MMDA to resort to fire trucks to help pump flood waters off the streets everytime the rainy season hits Metro Manila.

At least 21 typhoons hit the Metropolis every year.

Under Republic Act 7924 of 1995, the law which created the MMDA, all flood management and control programs and their budgets should have been turned over to the MMDA.

But the DPWH has continuously held the budget for flood control, citing the lack of expertise of the MMDA in flood control management.

Seva has expressed fear that floods will continue to hit Metro Manila if the DPWH will not implement concrete and clear changes in its approach to the flood problem using the P208 million budget of the DPWH.

Pleyto claimed that as early as January this year, his office has taken upon itself to undertake intensified maintenance operations in various parts of the metropolis.