SANTIAGO City –The local government here took decisive moves by summoning the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to a public forum on Aug 26 to question DPWH regarding the sudden and severe flooding in Centro Poblacion and other parts of the city.
During the hearing, presided by Mayor Alyssa Sheena Tan, DPWH representatives were asked to provide detailed information on the project’s plan, implementation, completion date, and bidding process.
Tan underscored the significance of national projects in the city, and clarified that the hearing aimed to identify solutions and accountabilities over the failed flood-control projects.
She also asserted that local officials were usually blamed for botched government infrastructure projects.
According to DPWH engineers Jake Quilang and Reynard Dayag, their flood control project involves a 1.4-kilometer stretch across the city. The project started on June 14 last year and was expected to be completed last January.
However, completion was attained only last on Aug. 16, 2025 although fully payment has yet to be delivered.
The mayor urged DPWH to comply with the city’s proposed ordinance which mandates proper coordination with contractors working on national projects.
“The LGU is the one being criticized when projects go wrong,” she lamented even as she cited the need for closer collaboration and upholding accountability.
The public forum also served as a platform for the city government to assert its oversight role and to collaborate with DPWH to determine effective solutions to the flooding problem.
