Who’s in charge of flood control infrastructure?
By Leonardo Micua
IT is widely understood that flood control projects relating to major rivers draining into the sea fall under the jurisdiction of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Despite this public knowledge, critics of Dagupan Mayor Belen Fernandez have been unfairly targeting her, attempting to link her to a flood control project along the Sinocalan River in Barangay Lasip Chico.
During my coverage of the August 18 session of the Dagupan Sanggunian, I bumped into my good friend Mike Sim, who expressed his frustration over these attempts to hold the mayor accountable for a project over which she had practically no control.
The critics have specifically highlighted on social media a P96.5 million River Protection Project along the Sinocalan River as early as August 2024, which is now listed among various flood control projects on the “Sumbong sa Pangulo” website.
Given that the Sinocalan River is one of three major rivers flowing from the mountains into the Lingayen Gulf, its upkeep and maintenance are a national concern and, as such, fall under the purview of the DPWH, not the city government.
For general information, the contract for this project was awarded to MBK Construction Corporation of Tarlac after a belated bidding held only in February 2025, which, methinks, is no fault at all of the contractor.
According to research conducted by Mike Sim, a businessman and accomplished bowler, the Notice to Proceed (NTP) was only issued to the contractor by the 2nd Pangasinan Engineering District on March 14, 2025.
We heard that Phase 1 of the project has already been completed and Phase 2 is already underway. Phase I has already succeeded in protecting some communities in the city during the last flood in July.
It appears that in the absence of valid criticisms against Mayor Fernandez, these individuals are resorting to blaming her for the recent floods in Dagupan, almost to the point of holding her responsible for flooding events in Metro Manila, Bulacan, and Pampanga as well.
What is a city initiative in Lasip Chico, according to Mike Sim, is a P3.870 million project on upgrading of PCC pavement and drainage system funded from Supplemental Budget No. 2, passed on November 5, 2024, only when three opposition councilors were suspended by the Office of the President for 60 days.
Mike gave a mouthful to critics of Mayor Belen: “Be specific and let us not mislead the people… from Sinocalan to Lasip Chico… labas ang syudad dyan.”
He said it all.
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While the DPWH is currently under investigation by both the Senate and the House of Representatives, it is earning plaudits in Dagupan for its various projects of big impact to the city.
During the Sanggunian regular session last Augusta 18, the city council through a resolution authored by Councilor Jose Netu Tamayo, expressed its profound gratitude to DPWH for making Barangays Tebeng, Mangin, Salisay Bolosan, Mamalingling and Tambac now virtually flood-free.
Councilor Joey, a lawyer, noted that these barangays were historically among the first areas to experience flooding. This is no longer the case, he said, due to the DPWH projects that contained the floodwaters.
Indeed, during the most recent widespread flooding from July 22 to 31, these villages were notably spared.
The DPWH’s contributions in Dagupan also extend to elevating major thoroughfares and building larger, wider drainage canals.
Furthermore, the agency has been continuously dredging the city’s silted rivers at no cost to the city for several years now.
The DPWH was also involved in the construction of the new Dawel Bridge, zschool buildings, other critical infrastructures that now proliferate at Tondaligan Park, not to mention the Tondaligan Baywalk, tagged by former DPWH Secretary now Senator Mark Villar as the longest bicycle lane in the country.
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