Govt to build mega dikes in Marikina River, Laguna de Bay to avert floods
By: Karl John C. Reyes, InterAksyon.com
August 12, 2012 2:34 PM
InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5
MANILA, Philippines - As a long-term solution to avert flooding in Metro Manila caused by heavy rains, the national government will build mega dikes in Marikina River and Laguna De Bay, and they will be funded through bilateral loans from South Korea and Japan, it was learned Sunday.
In a radio interview, Senator Franklin Drilon said that the construction of the mega dikes in Marikina River and Laguna de Bay will be prioritized by the Aquino government as a long-term solution against the cycle of flooding in the surrounding areas of the water formations.
Drilon, who heads the Senate committee on finance which holds the hearings on the national budget, quoted Public Works Secretary Ronald Singson as saying that rainwater should be stopped in the mountains and prevented from going down to low-lying areas in the metropolis.
The senator said the dikes form part of a P352-billion national flood control project being eyed by the administration which will be sourceto be sourced from the Official Development Assistance (ODA) and other concessional loans to be extended by South Korea and Japan.
Doubling quick-response funds
Drilon also said that Congress might double the current P500 million quick response funds allotted for repair and rehabilitation of major roads and other infrastructures devastated by typhoons and floods.
He said the fund will be sourced from the P30-billion savings of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) generated in 2012 due to reforms in the bidding process.
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