This was gathered from officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) led by Carla Bartolo, Project Management Office-Flood Control chief, in a dialogue called by Malabon Acting Mayor Mark Allan Jay Yambao yesterday.
The meeting was held at the city session hall intended to update the new administration and other interested parties on the status of the project.
The meeting, the first since the project was launched for the ninth time at the Pinagkabalian Bridge at the Malabon-Obando, Bulacan boundary this time by no less than President Arroyo last June, was also attended by top officials of the Nishimatsu Construction Co. of Japan, the winning contractor, led by Tadahiko Matsumura, local barangay and city hall officials.
Bartolo said the project is set for completion by the year 2007 as agreed upon by the government and the contractor. The project faces delay allegedly because of still unpaid private properties that will be affected by the project, particularly in Malabon and Navotas.
Councilor Edilberto Torres, an engineer by profession, however, said the present non-availability of funds will not have a significant effect on the project. He said the fund is already allocated in the budget and the funds may be released soon after this is approved at the bicameral conference.
The multibillion-peso project is to be financed under a soft-loan package from the Japanese government through the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). The project was awarded to Nishimatsu last year.
Yambao, meanwhile, expressed deep concern for this yet another stumbling block. He said he would seek the help of President Arroyo to expedite the release of the needed funds from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to pay the owners of the affected private properties.
It was gathered that some 3,000 squatter families have been relocated by the government from Malabon, Navotas and Caloocan as part of the clearing operation. DPWH officials said there remains some 70 percent of the area that needs to be cleared.