Bulacan Governor Daniel Fernando expressed surprise over the reported number of flood control projects allocated to the province.
This comes after President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., in a press briefing on Monday, August 11, revealed that Bulacan was allocated 668 flood control projects.
In an interview on Morning Matters on One News, the three-term provincial chief admitted that the province did not seem to feel the impact of such a large number of projects.
“Actually, nagulat ako sa dami ng na-allocate (na flood control projects) sa Lalawigan ng Bulacan,” Fernando said.
He explained that the provincial government had no role in implementing these projects and was only informed once they were completed.
“Actually, nasa national ‘yan kung paano nila ididistribute yan… Sa amin, basta inaabangan na lang namin ang mga projects na yan. Kailangan natin ang projects na yan, ang flood control na yan,” the governor added.
Fernando also said he is willing to cooperate with any investigation the Marcos administration may undertake regarding the matter.
Bulacan Vice Governor Alex Castro echoed Fernando’s reaction, saying he too was surprised by the number. In a separate interview with local media, Castro noted that instead of improving, flooding worsened in the province after Typhoons Crising, Dante, and Emong — compounded by the southwest monsoon in July.
“‘Yung problema natin sa baha ganun pa rin, mas lumalala pa so ibig sabihin, kung (totoong) may 668 flood control (projects), ilang bilyon ‘yun na ibinaba sa probinsya natin at ito ay napagawa na, sana kahit ilang percentage ay naramdaman natin na ‘uy, nawala yung baha dito,’” Castro said.
Bulacan remains one of the hardest-hit provinces by flooding, with areas such as Calumpit, Hagonoy, and the provincial capital Malolos among the worst affected.