The Philippine Senate has raised serious concerns regarding the absence of a cohesive national flood control master plan, as officials admit to fragmented efforts across various river basins.
During a recent Senate committee hearing on public works, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan acknowledged that the Philippines currently lacks an integrated flood control master plan.
He stated, “several master plans” exist in 18 major river basins, which are in various preparation stages. However, these plans are not coordinated, leading to concerns about their effectiveness in addressing the country’s flooding issues.
Bonoan elaborated, “I have taken a look in all these river basins and most of them, the master plans are still currently being updated at this point in time taking into account the climate change phenomenon and other factors that have to be incorporated in the master plan.”
This admission has raised alarms among senators, particularly Senator Imee Marcos, who questioned the lack of integration among the plans.
She pointed out, “So there’s [an] admission on the part of the DPWH that, in fact, a national flood control master plan still does not exist? Is that right?”
Marcos further criticized the current approach, asking, “Where are the billions of dollars being allocated if there is no master plan? How do you choose the projects?”
This sentiment was echoed by Senator Joel Villanueva, who highlighted the interconnected nature of flooding, stating, “If it is not integrated, if you do it in one place, the other side, the other province, the other town, the other barangay will be flooded.”
The hearing comes in the wake of severe flooding exacerbated by recent weather events, including Typhoon Carina, which has left many areas submerged.
Bonoan clarified that the 5,521 flood control projects mentioned by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. were stand-alone initiatives aimed at providing immediate relief, rather than part of a comprehensive strategy.
He noted, “These are immediate projects engineering interventions na hindi kasama sa master plan.”
As the Senate continues to scrutinize the DPWH’s flood control strategies, the call for a unified and effective national plan grows louder, emphasizing the urgent need for a coordinated response to the Philippines’ persistent flooding challenges.