Cayetano: Taguig flood control project contractor ‘messed up’ in geotag

MANILA, Philippines — Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said on Monday that the mix-up in the coordinates of a flood control project billed to Taguig City, which pointed to Leyte, was due to the contractor’s error.

Earlier, Sen. Panfilo Lacson asked the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to validate a flood control project billed to Taguig City, but whose geotagged coordinates pointed to a location in Leyte.

“When I took the report, the contractor in Leyte is the contractor in Taguig, and he got messed up in dealing, but the project was done,” Cayetano said during the budget hearing for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Article continues after this advertisement

READ: Taguig gov’t disputes Lacson’s illegal reclamation claims

FEATURED STORIES

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

He then criticized the DPWH for not addressing Lacson’s findings.

“DPWH doesn’t have the guts to say: ‘No, nothing’,” he said.

Cayetano compared the DPWH to the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA), which the lawmaker also criticized for failing to assert its jurisdiction over Laguna de Bay.

“Why are you so scared? I’m not asking you to lie. I’m not asking you to compliment. I’m asking you to give facts. Is that too much to ask? Is it too much to ask for you to say, ‘Sorry PRA (Philippine Reclamation Authority), you don’t have jurisdiction here’,” he said.

Article continues after this advertisement

Along the lake’s shoreline are the Taguig reclamation projects for which the DPWH issued cease-and-desist orders following a directive from the PRA.

The senator had earlier probed the issue.

Article continues after this advertisement

“Who has jurisdiction over Laguna Lake?” Cayetano asked LLDA Acting General Manager Leopoldo Parumog.

“LLDA,” Parumog said.

“PRA said they have jurisdiction. Sen. Lacson said PRA… LLDA is only environmental. Why is it okay for you to be interviewed when Taguig is being criticized? But when you are told that you do not have jurisdiction, you cannot say that you have jurisdiction?” Cayetano asked, referring to Parumog’s media interviews in which he discussed the supposed “unauthorized” reclamation projects.

READ: DPWH halts alleged illegal reclamation projects in Taguig

The senator also cited a 1995 Department of Justice opinion granting the LLDA jurisdiction over Laguna Lake, as well as an LLDA board resolution asserting its exclusive jurisdiction over the body of water.

“So why are you allowing the PRA to interfere in Laguna Lake? You have the DPWH undersecretary in front of you,” Cayetano asked.

“The problem with [Public Works] Sec. Vince [Dizon] is that when he is in front of the camera, you would think he is strong. He points and points, and curses and curses. But behind the camera, he is very scared. He doesn’t want to tell the truth,” he added.