A YEAR AGO, almost 68,000 individuals were affected and evacuated due to flooding in Central Luzon and almost 10 million worth of crops were damaged.
Central Luzon produces the most rice in the whole country. Excess rice is delivered and imported to other regions of the Philippines. It is composed of seven provinces: Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales. Most of these areas invariably suffer massive flooding during typhoons and wet seasons. The rainy season starts in June and ends in October every year. As a result, tremendous losses of properties, high value crops, and other agricultural crops such as rice and aquatic resources become a perennial problem and aside from the inconvenience and sufferings of displaced families in evacuation centers we are presently embattled by an unseen deadly coronavirus.
Studies show that the proximate cause of the flooding is due to the heavy siltation of the waterways in the region which is exacerbated by the absence of adequate flood control facilities and poor maintenance of existing floodways. Such challenges are the result of lack of funds from the government. This is due to the fact that the agency of the national government primarily in charge with the planning and implementation of infrastructure projects does not put much emphasis on such projects.
It is not only imperative but urgent as well that a permanent office be created by law instead of creating an ad hoc office of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to ensure continuity and fixedness of plans and programs pertaining to flood control projects in the region. The proposed creation of the Central Luzon River Control System Commission (CLRCSC) or House Bill No. 915 filed by Rep. Aurelio Dong Gonzales Jr., 3rd district-Pampanga, shall be placed under the control and supervision of the DPWH secretary most especially in terms of policy formation, feasibility studies, planning and implementation of related projects funded by the national government but remains separate and independent from the office of the DPWH regional director. This office shall focus solely on the identification of causes of the flooding, and formulation of solutions that would effectively mitigate flooding problems in Central Luzon on a long term basis.
The CLRCSC shall be headed by a project manager to be appointed the DPWH secretary. He/ she will be assisted by an assistant with the rank, qualifications and salary of a project manager II to be appointed likewise by the DPWH secretary. This office shall be manned by technical, financial, and administrative personnel which shall be provided in the project management office staffing pattern or plantilla as may be recommended by the project manager and approved by the Civil Service Commission.
The DPWH secretary shall exercise supervision and control over the CLRCSC. As such, the office funds shall be automatically included in the annual budget of the DPWH and shall be released directly thereto by the Department of Budget and Management. The CLRCSC shall identify nationally funded major flood control projects in its areas of jurisdiction including any and all activities related thereto such as but not limited to feasibility studies, detailed engineering, construction, repair, rehabilitation and maintenance of flood control facilities which are already existing but are presently under the jurisdiction of the DPWH.
If passed into law, within 60 days all personnel of the regional and district offices of the DPWH assigned to major flood control projects shall be transferred to and absorbed by the CLRCSC to avoid redundancy or duplication of functions without loss of rights of seniority, security of tenure, diminution in rank and salaries and other monetary benefits which they are presently receiving on account of the positions they are presently holding. It shall also have the power to create its own bids and awards committee for the purpose of undertaking the procurement activities for its contract whether for infrastructure projects, consultancy or goods.