The government has completed about 10,000 flood control projects nationwide, which helped mitigate flooding brought about by tropical storm “Crising” and the enhanced southwest monsoon, Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan said on Wednesday.
In addition to engineering solutions which provided immediate relief to flood-prone areas, Bonoan said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has directed the implementation of additional flood-control measures together with other government agencies.
Bonoan said that the Marcos administration began constructing flood-control projects nationwide in mid-July 2022 and that by May 2025, 9,856 flood control projects had been completed.
“I think (these) flood control projects … have given immediate relief, especially in low-lying areas all over the country,” Bonoan said.
Bonoan said there are ongoing 5,700 flood control projects, noting that there will be more in the pipeline next year, which will include minor flood control projects and major projects in 18 major river basins across the country. “Sabi nga ng ating Pangulo, hindi lang po naman iyong engineering solution ang dapat nating tingnan. It has to be done cohesively at collaboratively with the other agencies kasi may mga environmental issues,” Bonoan said.
“Napapansin po namin lalong-lalo na iyong mga tertiary rivers natin ay silted na silted na po. Mababa na po iyong riverbed natin kaya halos during summer season natatapakan muna po iyong riverbed natin,” Bonoan said.
The DPWH is focusing on desilting major rivers to improve their water carrying capacity, he said.
Bonoan said the impounding of flood waters as directed by the President is also a part of the flood control measures.
“Ito iyong kabilin-bilinan ng ating Pangulo na kahit pati doon sa mga flood control project integrate po namin ngayon, iyong pag-ipon ng tubig-baha,” Bonoan said.
“Gumagawa po kami ng returning basin wherever it is technically feasible para iyong maipon natin iyong mga tubig na puwedeng gamitin sa irigasyon, sa water supply at saka kung anuman kasya sa dumadaloy lang iyong tubig-baha papunta sa dagat.” | PND
