Palace denies postponement of anti-flood projects

Malacanang denied the accusation of Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez that the Aquino administration postponed 19 projects to lessen flooding.

Suarez recommended a congressional probe on the accusation that Aquino canceled numerous vital flood control projects in Central Luzon.

The 19 projects that were allegedly cancelled were in progress after typhoons "Ondoy" and "Pepeng" had swamped Metro Manila and other provinces, according to Suarez.

Suarez said, "One cannot help but think that if these projects were not capriciously cancelled on the sole fact that they were initiated by the previous administration, then the recent flooding could have been prevented or mitigated."

He stressed that even Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson verified the postponement of the projects.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda, however, said "What was canceled by Secretary Singson were the 19 negotiated contracts. What was changed was the mode of procurement – what Secretary Singson did was to cancel them and opened them for public bidding."

Lacierda said that in any event, Secretary Singson is ready to present the details and the documentation on that.

He added, "What Secretary Singson did was to make sure that it was properly done." — ARA