Solon hits lack of maintenance of Pampanga dike projects

SAN FERNANDO CITY, Pampanga - Pampanga Rep. Anna York Bondoc Wednesday urged Congress to conduct an inquiry into the government's policy on maintaining flood control projects, particularly those built in her province.

In House Resolution 1476 filed by Bondoc, she said lack of maintenance for national flood control projects render the dikes useless, leading to massive floods, death and losses to property.

Citing an evaluation report by the Japan Board of Audit and the Japan International Corporation Agency, she said flood control projects were rated D, the lowest rating.

She said the evaluation report means the projects are "totally useless" and a waste of Japanese taxpayers' money due to lack of maintenance.

The projects evaluated by JICA, particularly the P1.4 billion megadike in Pampanga, the P3 billion Pampanga Delta project and the Pinatubo Hazard Urgent Mitigation Project, were built through funds donated by the Japanese government.

Bondoc said the Department of Public Works and Highways led the construction of the three major flood control projects, but failed to maintain the structures.

She said lack of maintenance results to "annual massive flooding leading to loss of life and billions of flood damages."

Bondoc said the National Economic Development Authority and DPWH have affirmed that it is the responsibility of the Local Government Unit, usually Class 2-4 municipalities where the projects are located, to maintain said flood control projects.

She said that passing to the LGUs the responsibility of maintaining the projects is a burden since they lack funds.

"Why should these municipalities with inadequate funds be burdened with maintaining these projects which are actually regional and even national in scope?" Bondoc asked.