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(PNA photo)
MANILA – Senator Erwin Tulfo on Wednesday urged the national government to let the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) take sole responsibility for flood control projects warning that continued political interference undermines their success.
“It is not our job our job is to do law. Bakit tayo makikialam sa flood control eh unfortunately ilang administrasyon na puro flood control may nangyari ba niyan (Why are we interfering with flood control when for several administrations its been the same issue and nothing has changed)? he said.
Tulfo said previous administrations had proposed viable long-term solutions such as building spillways to Manila Bay and dredging Laguna de Bay but many of these have yet to materialize.
He said such engineering interventions are far more effective than token efforts like river dredging.
“Ang flood control ng mga politiko maglalagay ng backhoe sa ilog huhukayin ng ilog. Thats not flood control (Politicians’ idea of flood control is putting a backhoe in a river and digging it. That’s not flood control) he said.
The senator said lawmakers should stay out of implementation especially during the budget deliberations for 2025.
“Ako po nasa majority. Pero Ill be the first one to say no stop. Huwag natin pakialaman yung flood control na yan. Leave it to DPWH (I’m part of the majority. But I’ll be the first to say: no stop. Let’s not meddle with flood control. Leave it to DPWH) he said.
Tulfo said he welcomed the move of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. suspending certain flood projects over alleged irregularities.
“Sabi ng DBM (Department of Budget and Management) pinapahold po ng Presidente... good. Anong karapatan ng Senador Congressman mag-flood control? None (DBM said the President ordered a hold… that’s good. What right do senators or congressmen have to handle flood control? None) he said.
He also expressed confidence that the President would tackle flood control in his upcoming State of the Nation Address. (PNA)
