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Explain how anti-flood budget was spent, MMDA told


MANILA, Philippines - An opposition senator on Friday dared the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to disclose how it spent its half a billion peso anti-flood budget for 2009 after typhoon "Emong" submerged parts of Metro Manila Thursday night. Senator Francis Escudero said areas in Manila, Marikina, Malabon, Navotas, Caloocan City and Quezon City were heavily flooded due to the continuous downpour compounded by clogged drainage systems and esteros. "Metro Manila was not even one of the areas being directly affected by typhoon Emong but flash floods still hit some of the cities. I ask the MMDA, can we expect more floods come the rainy season?" Escudero said in a press statement. The senator said the MMDA should publicly disclose what it is doing with the funds intended for flood control as it failed to address the recurring problem of flash floods in Metro Manila due to clogged drainages. "We have seen how the MMDA wields its authority in clearing sidewalks of vendors when it wants to. Why then can it not wield the same authority when it comes to flood control?" Escudero lamented. The senator said some P221 million of the MMDA’s anti-flood budget is allocated for the maintenance, repair and rehabilitation of drainage systems and related facilities. "The problem of flooding has affected the way of life in Metro Manila and has now become predictable. This shouldn't be so. It seems that year after year, it doesn't seem to improve, and in fact seems to be actually deteriorating," Escudero said. He said the MMDA only seems to focus on things visible to the public under its “Metro Guwapo" program, particularly along EDSA and main thoroughfares in the metropolis. Escudero said that if the MMDA applied the same zeal to the anti-flood projects that it shows in clearing sidewalks and putting mini-gardens along EDSA, then the flooding problem can be eased considerably. "If the MMDA can spend millions in solving the traffic problem by building elevated U-turn slots along C-5, which many derisively call the ninth and tenth wonders of the world, then how come we don't feel it is spending the same amount of money and effort for flood control?" Escudero said. - Amita Legaspi, GMANews.TV
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