Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso has called for the transfer of operations and maintenance of flood control infrastructure to local government units (LGUs), citing what he described as failures by national agencies and political interference in projects meant to mitigate flooding in the capital.

“If you give the mayor the authority, you get action and accountability,” Domagoso told members of the Association of Philippine Journalists — Samahang Plaridel Foundation, Inc. “Let us handle it — because we face the people every day. And when we fail, there’s no one else to blame.”

Domagoso lamented the continued dysfunction of flood control systems managed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), specifically pointing to the Sunog Apog pumping station in Tondo.

“It’s brand new and unusable. Brand new and ineffective. Brand new and not functioning. You name it,” he said, asserting that faulty construction has rendered the station incapable of serving flood-prone communities.

The mayor argued that local officials are more accountable to their constituents. “If you let the mayor run it and it fails, there’s direct responsibility. In three years, if we mess up, we’re done,” he said.