Melting in the rain
After the floods and consequent traffic jams, another problem inevitably follows: potholes. After just two days of rainfall that was not even heavy enough to raise the water in Angat Dam above the critical level, roads in Metro Manila are again disintegrating. Potholes can be found even in the areas that were quickly repaved for the ministerial meetings of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations less than two weeks ago.Either road-building technology is retrogressing, or certain individuals are getting rich from substandard public works projects undertaken by fly-by-night contractors. Filipinos still remember the durability of the original smooth asphalt pavement of Roxas Boulevard, which survived several decades of typhoons and floods with little need for repair. Such top-quality roads can still be seen — but no longer in the Philippines.
In other countries that put a premium on efficiency, governments see to it that their citizens are guaranteed a smooth drive on good roads. Not so in this country, where even the capital region is a patchwork of asphalt and concrete — a testament to the arbitrary manner in which road projects are selected and implemented. Bad roads not only are unsightly but also slow down traffic and speed up the deterioration of vehicle tires and engines.
The substandard quality can be due to sheer inefficiency. Or it can be due to corruption, with the quality of road projects suffering because a huge chunk of funds allocated for public works goes to private pockets. In all surveys, the Department of Public Works and Highways is consistently ranked as one of the most corrupt government agencies. The congressional pork barrel system is also to blame, with the executive branch unable to implement a long-term, coordinated approach to road building because about 250 lawmakers, many with personal interests in mind, have a say in decision-making. These lawmakers can also force the DPWH to allow their favored contractors to undertake public works projects even if the contractors do not meet the required qualifications.
Whoever is at fault, taxpayers must start demanding accountability in road projects. Authorities should identify the contractor and the official who approved the construction or repair of roads that melt in a downpour. If a lawmaker foisted the contractor on the DPWH, the lawmaker must also be identified. Once the culprits have been singled out, criminal and administrative charges must be filed for the waste of public funds.
