MANILA — Senator Risa Hontiveros flagged the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for pushing through with flood control projects without securing approval from local government units (LGUs), citing Quezon City where only 2 out of 254 projects had city clearance.

At the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on questionable flood control projects, Hontiveros said the DPWH’s lack of coordination violated both the Local Government Code and DPWH policies. Of the 254 projects in Quezon City, she said only 16 even applied for coordination certificates, and just two were approved.

“Can flood control projects really be made without coordination with the LGU? At kung kailangan naman ng coordination, eh bakit po maraming proyekto ang hindi nagko-coordinate sa mga LGUs?” she asked.

The senator warned that the absence of oversight enables irregularities, citing two proposed pumping stations in Barangays Moriblo and Santa Cruz that had the same location, similar costs, and the same contractor.

DPWH-NCR Director Gerard Opulencia admitted that projects were implemented despite not having clearance from the Quezon City government. DPWH Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral added that the department has repeatedly reminded its regional offices to coordinate with LGUs.

Hontiveros vowed to pursue the issue further in the continuation of the Senate probe.