PARTYLIST Abono is set to file a civil case against the National Power Corporation (NPC) for the wanton destruction wrought by the flood in October last year after the latter released big volumes of water from the San Roque Dam at the height of typhoon “Pepeng”.

Rosendo So, an engineer and Abono founding chairman, said the civil suit will be initiated with the support of agri-businessmen from eastern Pangasinan, including rice millers, piggery and poultry house owners, and warehouse owners among others.

The agri-business community’s reported total losses from the flood amount to P20 billion.

So said the farmers have yet to compute their losses and are unable to take part in the case.

“We are proceeding with the court suit even if the farmers are not among the plaintiffs yet,” said So during the Pangasinan Press Club forum last week.

The agri-businessmen, on the other hand, are ready with their figures and will execute affidavits attesting to their losses.

So, whose Abono partylist won two seats in the House of Representatives during the May 10 election, said filing the civil suit 10 months after the flood is “never too late”.

Aside from possibly recovering losses, So is confident that the court charges will help prompt the NPC to re-assess its policies in such situations.

The suit will be the second one filed against the NPC after the civil case filed by the Trial Lawyers of the Philippines chapter in Pangasinan led by Retired Court of Appeals Justice Teodoro Regino.

The case filed by the Trial Lawyers seeks not just compensation for damages but also the decommissioning of the San Roque Dam.

The provincial government has also considered filing its own civil suit against NPC but said it does not have the funding needed for the filing fees that could reach millions in pesos.

DIKE

At the same time, So expressed apprehension over the earth dike built by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to replace the breached Agno River flood control dikes.

He said he doubts whether the new structure will be able to withstand a La Niña episode should one occur this year.

So also appealed to President Benigno Aquino III to order the DPWH to re-examine the newly constructed earth dike.

The 14 sites along the Agno River dike from Rosales to Mangatarem that were breached in last year’s flood have already been restored.—LM

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