The Economy and Development (ED) Council Investment Coordination Committee – Cabinet Committee (ICC-CC), chaired by Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, has approved the adoption of a resolution aggregating flood control and management projects within a single river basin.
In a statement Wednesday, the DOF said the resolution approved by the ICC-IC on Aug. 12 was recommended by the Infrastructure Development Committee (InfraCom) Sub-Committee on Water Resources (SCWR) to allow the government to conduct a comprehensive review of the flood management projects and to ensure that these are shovel-ready before their implementation.
“We will make sure that the hard-earned money of our countrymen is truly put to good use. We will not let the people’s money be wasted on failed or ill-considered projects,” said Recto.
The current ICC guidelines only require evaluation of projects above the P2.5 billion threshold, thus, most of the existing flood control projects, which were treated individually, did not undergo the ICC evaluation process.
The DOF said this results in disaggregated projects, which do not take into account possible flooding impacts to adjacent communities within a single river basin.
By aggregating flood control and management projects in a single river basin, more of these projects will be subjected to the ICC evaluation, particularly in the aspects of technical, environmental, social, and economic viability, among others.
It will also ensure the quality and readiness of flood control projects.
The resolution likewise enables a unified strategy and cohesive flood control efforts to achieve optimum results and long-term sustainability.
Under the resolution, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will be designated as the lead proponent agency in the submission of aggregated projects to ICC.
Following the approval made by the ICC-CC and its endorsement to the InfraCom-CC, the resolution will be elevated for the ED Council’s consideration and final decision.
DPWH PHOTO