MANILA, Philippines - Flood control projects that were supposed to be bankrolled by the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) would continue even if some acts under the funding have been declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
Calls to implement effective flood control measures mounted after Tropical Storm Mario inundated a huge part of Metro Manila and various parts of Luzon last week.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said yesterday the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is looking for other funding sources for the projects.
“The DPWH is working to include some of these projects in their (budget) proposal for 2015. They are looking for alternative funding sources,” Valte said in a press briefing.
“While there were some infrastructure flood-related projects that were affected by the DAP decision, they are looking for other funding sources so they can be implemented,” she added.
Valte also said the public can be assured that the flood control projects would be completed by 2015 even without DAP.
Last July, the Supreme Court declared some acts under the DAP unconstitutional for going against the constitutional doctrine of separation of powers. The funding of projects and programs not included in the national budget was also declared unconstitutional.
DPWH admitted receiving almost P5 billion in DAP funds that were allotted to various flood control projects.
Among the projects that are part of the DPWH flood management master plan for Metro Manila are two projects on the Manila Bay seawall worth P211.05 million; six projects in Nangka River in Marikina worth P222 million; Marikina River dredging that costs P50 million; Manggahan Floodway dredging worth P100 million; restoration of Marikina River’s damaged slope, rehabilitation of Tullahan River and the repair of the Napindan River revetment wall worth P113 million.
Storm displaced thousands
Mario battered Metro Manila and parts of Luzon and the Visayas, displacing thousands and damaging agricultural crops and infrastructure.
As of yesterday, the death toll from the storm rose to 11, while 12 persons were injured and one is still missing, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).
At least 258,976 families, or 1,160,050 individuals from the Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Cordillera Administrative Region, National Capital Region, Southern Tagalog, Bicol and Central Visayas were affected by the storm.
At least 30,266 families, or 125,676 individuals, are still staying in 324 evacuation centers, the NDRRMC said.
Meanwhile, the destruction left by the storm to the roads and bridges in Cordillera, Metro Manila, Cagayan Valley and Central Luzon was initially estimated at P193.29 million as of yesterday, the DPWH said.
DPWH said the amount is expected to further increase once reports from other affected regions have been assessed.
Ilocos under state of calamity
Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur were placed under a state of calamity since Friday, based on the recommendation of their provincial boards and disaster officials.
At least P715 million worth of agricultural crops and livestock in Region 1 were destroyed by Typhoons Mario and Luis, according to the initial report of the Department of Agriculture (DA) regional office.
Valentino Perdido, DA regional director, said the estimate of the damage would still increase when the complete reports of the municipal agricultural offices reach the DA regional office.
As of yesterday, the DA regional office said Ilocos Norte incurred losses in rice worth P323 million; Ilocos Sur, P32 million; La Union, P14.9 million; and Pangasinan, 282 million.
Losses in the region’s fishery industry were initially estimated at P15 million, livestock at P2.1 million, high-value crops at P41 million and corn and poultry products at P5 million.
However, a separate report from the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Ilocos Sur said that in the province, the losses in rice crops alone have reached more than P77.7 million. The report also said that at least 45.85 hectares of vegetable farms with an estimated value of P4.9 million were destroyed, while losses in fishery reached P335,000.
Perdido said the DA regional office has requested the DA central office for an augmentation for rice and seeds in anticipation of the impending shortage of palay supply.
Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur have also suffered power outages because electric posts and power cables were damaged by the storm. As of yesterday, power was not yet restored in most of the municipalities.
But the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP), the country’s grid operator, said it has completed restoration work of several transmission and sub-transmission lines and its substations in North Luzon affected by the calamity. – With Jaime Laude, Iris Gonzales, Helen Flores, Czeriza Valencia, Charlie Lagasca, Jun Elias, Artemio Dumlao, Vic Alhambra Jr., Lawrence Agcaoili