Chiz wants to increase MMDA flood control funds

A woman wades her way on Imelda avenue circa Sept 2009 in the Philippines. Typhoon Ondoy left hundreds of thousand families displaced and killed hundreds of people. (Timothy Medrano / Shutterstock)

MANILA — Senator Francis Chiz Escudero wants to increase the funding for flood control projects under the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

Escudero said MMDA was only given P276 million for flood control and sewerage management for this year.

The senator, who is also the chair of the Senate committee on finance said that the amount is “clearly not enough” for Metro Manila citing its size of 63,000 hectares.

“I am of the position that the national government’s subsidy to MMDA, insofar as flood control is concerned, should be increased,” he said.

Escudero also said that flood control is also the responsibility of the national government.

“Hindi lang trabaho ng MMDA ‘yan, pero ng pambansang pamahalaan din.”

He added that he wants to know whether the MMDA will be able to fulfill its promise of reducing the number of flood prone areas in Metro Manila.

Escudero said the MMDA promised to reduce it by 10 percent this year.

“The MMDA has promised that it will work for a 10-percent reduction of flooded areas or from, 4,570 to 4,105 hectares for a rainfall intensity of less than 40 millimeters per hour and that floodwaters in areas under its jurisdiction will subside 40 minutes to one hour after a downpour measuring less than 40 millimeters per hour,” he said.