Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan disagreed that the construction of various infrastructure projects has affected the drainage systems and waterways in Bulacan and caused the massive flooding there recently.
Councilors Coach Geli Bulaong and Troy Aldaba fearlessly went down into the chest-deep flood of Barangay Longos, MacArthur Village in the City of Malolos, Bulacan on July 29, 2023, while they personally handed the relief goods to a senior citizen trapped in their house by the massive flooding brought by southwest monsoon enhanced by the Typhoon Egay. (Photo courtesy of Marcel Bayan/ MANILA BULLETIN)
Instead, he said that the flooding in Bulacan was triggered by the “shallow rivers.”
“I think, sa akin lang naman (for me only), technically kasi (because) some of the problems actually in Bulacan is that many of the rivers there, the riverbed are just so shallow now at this time. So, we need to increase the carrying capacity of these rivers para mas mabilis iyong pagdaloy ng tubig-baha papunta sa Manila Bay (to make the flow of water going to Manila Bay quicker),” he explained during a Palace press briefing on Tuesday, Aug. 8.
However, he agreed that an audit on construction practices will help deal with these issues, and assured that the bypass roads being constructed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) do not hinder waterways.
The official came to the defense of the agency’s flood-control projects after a senator criticized their efficiency despite the billions of pesos being poured into the projects.
Senator Bong Revilla, chair of the Senate Committee on Public Works, is set to summon the DPWH chief and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairperson Romando Artes for a hearing on the recent spate of flooding brought by monsoon rains and Typhoon “Egay.”
Also in his statement, the senator said he will make sure contractors who damage waterways and drainage facilities are held accountable.
An earlier situation briefing reported that damage to waterways, as well as the construction of bypass roads and commuter railways, caused the massive flooding in Bulacan.