Politicians in typhoon areas want damaged roads repaired soon

MANILA, Philippines - Public Works Acting Secretary Victor Domingo said politicians whose areas were heavily hit by tropical storm “Ondoy” and typhoon “Pepeng” have been lobbying his department to finish the repair of the damaged roads immediately.

These politicians apparently have been receiving complaints from their constituents on the slow repair of infrastructure damaged by the two deadly typhoons.

Ondoy hit Metro Manila, Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog last Sept. 26 while Pepeng left the Northern part of Luzon battered almost a week later.

In a statement, Domingo assured the public that they are doing their best to fast track the rehabilitation process, considering their limited resources.

“Nothing will stop me from doing a good job come hell or high water. I understand that the badgering the DPWH is now getting from local politicians stemmed from their desire to help their constituents and so leave a positive legacy behind,” Domingo said in a recent speech before the District Engineers League of the Philippines (DELP) at the Manila Hotel. “A large percentage of the roads and bridges destroyed by the twin typhoons are already back in operation, especially those located in Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija, Ilocos Norte, and Tuguegarao. We expect to get more of our storm-damaged road network repaired into the coming days,” Domingo said.

He assumed the post of DPWH chief last month and inherited the repair works left behind by his predecessor secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., who resigned to run for president in next year’s elections.

He said he would focus on the repair and rehabilitation of roads and bridges damaged by the two typhoons during his eight-month tenure at the department.

On his first day at the agency, Domingo urged all senators and congressmen to realign 25 percent of their Countryside Development Funds (CDF) for the repair and rehabilitation of the major infrastructure.