Senator Sherwin Gatchalian conducts today, November 21, site inspections in Cagayan and Isabela provinces as a prelude to the anticipated Senate probe on the severe flooding in several parts of Luzon following the onslaught of Typhoon “Ulysses” more than a week ago.
Gatchalian, vice chairman of the Senate Economic Affairs Committee, said he wanted to personally ascertain the damage left behind by deep floods that practically submerged the entire Cagayan province and some parts of Isabela. The site inspection is ahead of the scheduled Senate inquiry.
“There may be a need to revisit the protocols being observed by those in the know in order to prevent this from happening again or at the very least, lessen the damage to properties, infrastructure and agriculture,” he explained.
“This is a recurring flooding problem. This is not the first time that there is a wide swath of destruction whenever sluice gates of dams are opened, not only in the Magat Dam but also the effects in Marikina City. I want to know why these things recur,” he added.
The entire system, the release of water from the dam all the way to the catchment and river basin, should be studied very carefully not only in Cagayan but in other areas that were flooded at the height of Typhoon Ulysses, Gatchalian said.
“The public hearing will be on the release of waters from dams. This happened during the passage of tropical storm ‘Ondoy’’ in 2009. This should not be repeated as properties are destroyed and lives are sacrificed,” he added.
Gatchalian is distributing 2,000 sacks of rice worth P4 million from the city government of Valenzuela for residents in Tuguegarao, Aparri, Enrile, Solana, Amulung in Cagayan and Cabagan, Ilagan, and Tumauini in Isabela.
Joining the senator are Valenzuela Vice Mayor Lorie Natividad-Borja and Councilor Rovin Feliciano.
The senator’s family is separately donating P1 million worth of sacks of rice to the Cagayan provincial government, Tuguegarao City, and the municipality of Aparri, the hometown of the Gatchalian matriarch.
They will also give out face masks, face shields, and slippers to ensure that everyone is protected from COVID-19.
Officials from Cagayan and Isabela will receive the donations in a turnover ceremony.