PHNO-PHILSTAR EDITORIAL: NEW PROJECTS VS FLOODINGS

PHILSTAR EDITORIAL: NEW PROJECTS VS
FLOODINGS
MANILA, AUGUST 27, 2012
(PHILSTAR) About 500 members of a non-government
organization gathered in Barangay Banaba extension in San Mateo, Rizal yesterday
to pile up sandbags along Nangka River.
The rudimentary defense against flooding and landslides from an
adjacent hilly area will be tested soon as weather forecasters predicted three
or more tropical cyclones this month, still the peak of the typhoon season.
San Mateo and neighboring Marikina as well as the communities around Laguna
de Bay are badly in need of a more effective flood control program. As of
yesterday, many of the communities remained flooded, with residents reporting
health problems including skin infections even where makeshift bridges have been
constructed so people can avoid wading in the stagnant water.
Despite such problems, many residents don't seem inclined to abandon homes
that were built in the natural floodplain around the lake. The government will
just have to devise better ways of flood control and disaster mitigation in
these areas.
The other day the National Economic and Development Authority approved flood
control projects nationwide for this year amounting to P6.87 billion.
About P1.6 billion is allocated for flood pumps for Metro Manila and another
P270 million for dredging of waterways. In the last torrential monsoon rains,
several areas in Metro Manila and neighboring areas experienced unusually heavy
flooding after water pumps operated by the Metro Manila Development Authority
ran out of fuel.
Any project meant to ease flooding will be welcomed by the public. The
government of daang matuwid will just have to make sure that implementation of
the projects will be aboveboard even in the rush to put them in operation.
The same goes for the other projects approved by the NEDA board the other
day, which include new airports and the expansion of the Light Railway Transit
2. The total cost of the 11 projects is P67 billion. That's a lot of taxpayers'
money that the administration should make sure will be utilized judiciously.


Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
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rights reserved




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