Solon of flood-prone city questions cut in MMDA budget

A representative of a flood-prone city in Metro Manila questioned the cut in the flood control program of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). Navotas City Rep. Tobias Reynaldo Tiangco has appealed for the restoration of the MMDA budget for it “to effectively fulfill its mandate on traffic and transport management, solid waste disposal and management and, most importantly, flood control." The proposed budget of the MMDA was cut by half from P 2.076 billion in 2010 to P981 million for 2011. The lawmaker expressed concern that if its budget would be slashed, the MMDA that has already accepted full responsibility for the flood control program of the entire Metro Manila area, would have great difficulty in meeting that responsibility. “We thought there would no longer be any finger pointing as MMDA has claimed the duty of seeing to Manila’s flood control, but with the budget cut, I don’t see how they can live up to that duty," said Tiangco in a press statement. In the September 29 hearing of the House Committee on Metro Manila Development headed by Tiangco, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Rogelio Singson and Engr. Baltazar Melbar of MMDA vowed to work on the flood control plan for Metro Manila. Melgar said the MMDA is responsible for the flood control program of Metro Manila while the DPWH shall be responsible for the construction of flood control projects. The flood control projects, once finished, would be turned over to the MMDA which shall then have full responsibility for its operation and maintenance. At present the MMDA is responsible for 52 pumping stations in Metro Manila, except the CAMANAVA (Caloocan-Malabon-Navotas-Valenzuela) project which is yet to be completed. –VVP, GMANews.TV