Problema sa pagbaha, sinimulan na din na busisiin sa Senado;
Kakulangan sa dredging at desilting operations, nakikitang problema ng DPWH
Kakulangan sa dredging at desilting operations, nakikitang problema ng DPWH
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NewsTranscript
00:00The Senate explained to several agencies of the government, not least to the heavy flooding in Metro Manila that affected Bagat and Bagyong Karina in the country.
00:13There are also some who see the problem, the DPWH, especially in the rivers.
00:19Daniel Manalastas is in the center of the news. Daniel.
00:24Yes, Aljo. I also joined the investigation of the Senate regarding the flooding in Metro Manila.
00:29Because of the Bagyong Karina and heavy winds, the government and the Department of Public Works and Highways are facing
00:36one of the problems that Secretary Manuel Bonoan is seeing in our rivers in the country is the lack of dredging and desilting operations.
00:44This is one of the reasons why the rivers are flooding.
00:47Let's go back to what happened in the news.
00:50Over the years, there has not been any dredging and desilting operations that were carried out in the principal rivers all over the country.
01:05And this is the reason why all of our major rivers are silted and the riverbeds are very shallow.
01:17The riverbeds have become very shallow to a point that any downpour that we call will overflow the riverbanks.
01:27So now, this is the patchy patchy that we call floodwalls that are being done for the time being.
01:34That's what I said, buy a lot of dredgers so we can dredge our floodways.
01:40And it became effective, in fairness, it became effective in Cavite.
01:45Mr. Chairman?
01:46The problem now is that it floods, it floods again, it's silted again. It needs to be dredged again.
01:53But some senators are saying that the program for dredging is being abused.
01:58That's why the solution was to buy dredging equipment.
02:02But the DPWH said that what they are asking for is old dredging equipment.
02:08For example, they are dredging but they can't measure what they are dredging.
02:14So the solution was to buy dredging equipment.
02:17So it would be good to know how many dredging equipment have been bought.
02:23Okay, Secretary, you may answer.
02:26We just passed by.
02:28One is actually the old dredging equipment, Your Honor.
02:31And we wanted to rehabilitate some of them and we wanted to maintain some of them.
02:37So none of them were bought by you?
02:39But Secretary, that's what I asked you to buy.
02:42We bought a new one so we can give it to the flood victims.
02:47Yes, Your Honor. Yes, Your Honor.
02:49We put in a budget but it was lost.
02:51It was lost.
02:54But what about Duterte, Admin, none of the dredging equipment was bought?
02:57I'm not...
02:59I think it was bought.
03:00I think it was bought.
03:03Can you just say to the committee about the aging of the dredging equipment?
03:08We did not have enough even to maintain the dredging equipment at this time.
03:24Control management program should be done holistically and integrated manner.
03:30In other words, everybody will have to dance the same tune in implementing the flood master plans and everything.
03:43And the President has specific instructions to the Department actually
03:48that instead of letting the floodwaters coming from the watershed,
03:54at this point in time, you should stop flooding the watershed.
04:03And this is what we will integrate.
04:06At the same time, the President has also instructed us
04:09that in the flood control projects that we are undertaking on the local flood control program,
04:16to integrate already water impounding facilities.
04:22Meanwhile, Aljo, at this time, the election is still ongoing
04:26and senators are discussing the reclamation projects.
04:33We are waiting for the answer of the DENR. Aljo?
04:38Okay. Thank you very much Daniel Vandalastas.