Manila 6th district Rep. Bienvenido "Benny" Abante Jr. has backed Manila City Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso's proposed flood control projects probe, but he thinks its better to expand it beyond the capital city.

“Sinusuportahan ko yung sinabi ng mayor ng Manila na papa-imbestiga niya. I support that ano…Oo kung nais nya eh unahin nya yung distrito ko (I support what the mayor of Manila said about launching an investigation. I support that...Yes, if he wants, he can start with my district)," Abante said in a press conference Thursday, Aug. 27

According to the third-term solon, other Metro Manila local government units (LGUs) like Quezon City, San Juan, and Mandaluyong, are experiencing similar flooding problems as with Manila. Thus, it's better to expand the inquiry to the other LGUs.

They all just have to agree on the premise, Abante noted.

“Kung magkakasundo silang lahat dyan, eh lahat yan pag-usapan po ‘yan at lahat ‘yan imbestigahan. I’m in favor of that. Pero hindi lamang sapagkat hindi kumuha ng permit o hindi nakipag-ugnay sa LGU, dapat ang talagang imbestigasyon dyan, ‘yan po ba ay ghost project, ‘yan ba ay substandard project, hindi lamang flood control – lahat ng infra project ng buong Maynila imbestigahan yan,” he said.

(If everyone agrees, then all of it should be discussed and investigated. I’m in favor of that. But not just because someone didn’t get a permit or didn’t coordinate with the LGU, the real investigation should be whether it’s a ghost project, whether it’s substandard. Not just flood control—all infrastructure projects across Manila should be investigated.)

Abante was apparently alluding to Moreno’s remark that he will focus his investigation on Manila lawmakers’ projects that were undertaken without a mayor’s permit or a building permit. 

He pointed out that his city “is actually prone to flooding yan sapagkat below sea level ang karamihan dyan (because most areas there are below sea level), especially my district".

“Duon din dumadaan ang main tributary ng mga ilog natin. For example in my district, dumadaan ang Pasig River, dyan nagpupunta ang San Juan River, dyan nagpupunta ang ibang maliliit na estero ano,” he said. 

(The main tributaries of our rivers also pass through there. For example, in my district, the Pasig River flows through it, the San Juan River goes there, and other small esteros also pass through.)

He added that it should not be difficult to find out which flood control projects were funded and undertaken by the Department of Public Works and Highways, and which were LGU projects.

“Kinakailangan naman madali lang iyan, i-check lang ng DPWH yan kung iyan po ay project ng national government o kaya ito ay project ng LGU. Sapagkat itong flood control project na iyan, hindi lamang ng DPWH yan eh. Even the LGU kinakailangan imbestigahan ng lahat na ito,” Abante said. 

(That should be easy, DPWH just needs to check whether the project is under the national government or the LGU. Because that flood control project isn’t solely under DPWH. Even the LGU needs to be investigated.)

“Ano ang ipinagawa ng city na flood control project. Ano ang ipinagawa ng DPWH. Ito po yung tinatawag natin na – i-check yan sa DPWH ang status and impact ng mga project na yan sa national government, for example. Kaya I’m all for that na dapat talagang imbestigahan iyan,” he noted.

(What flood control projects did the city implement? What did DPWH implement? This is what we’re talking about—DPWH should check the status and impact of those projects under the national government, for example. So I’m all for it; those projects really need to be investigated.)