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Fernando slammed for saying floods in Taguig are gone

10/16/2009

Contrary to claims by Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando that there are no more flooded areas in Taguig City, Taguig Rep. Maria Laarni “Lani” Cayetano led media reporters to Severina Subdivision, Bagumbayan, Taguig last Oct. 14 to counter the claims of Fernando.

Cayetano, who has been busy providing relief and rehabilitation work since typhoons “Ondoy” and “Pepeng” caused the floodings in many areas in Taguig, said yesterday portions of Taguig in barangays Napindan, Lower Bicutan, Hagonoy, Bagumbayan are still flooded. The municipality of Pateros also within her district still has families affected by floods.

“We cannot make sweeping statements like Taguig is no longer flooded if there is no real ground assessment by Chairman Fernando. The MMDA is supposed to be on top of flood control. The ocular inspection by media of certain areas that Taguig is still very much flooded bears out a contradictory statement. In times like this when people are jittery about their future, circumspection dictates verifying and counter checking reports to know the real situation,” she said.

She added there are even extreme cases wherein boats are still necessary to transport relief goods to reach people. “If you would visit Bay Breeze and Napindan in Taguig, you will need boats to transport supplies. Statements to media that there are no more floods in our area does not help any.”

For his part, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano said the government should also maintain transparency in the utilization of the P12-billion unprogrammed budget for the relief and rehabilitation works of areas ravaged by Ondoy and Pepeng.

Senator Cayetano also berated Fernando for claiming in his interviews that floods in Taguig had receded.

“Dito sa Napindan hanggang tuhod, sa Bay Breeze hanggang leeg, sa Severina hanggang dibdib pa ang baha,” he said.

“I ask Mr. Fernando to resign if he cannot prove that Taguig is now free of flood,” the senator added.

Charlie V. Manalo