President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday directed the Water Resources Management Office (WRMO) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to come up with a comprehensive plan to protect coastal communities and Metro Manila from flooding, including the construction of water impounding facilities to manage the country’s water resources.
The President issued the order following a briefing with the officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on their flood control programs and the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) on the management of dammed rivers.
During the briefing, the President noted the Php351 billion estimated cost of flood control projects of the DPWH in Metro Manila as well as in the surrounding areas.
“Pinapatingnan ko kung papaano ang kailangan, ano pa ‘yung dadagdag natin. Malaki, bilyon-bilyon na ang ginagastos natin para maglagay ng mga dike, maglagay ng mga waterway, mga spillway, pati pumping station dito sa NCR ay napag-usapan namin para mas marami at maging mas efficient ang paglabas ng tubig,” Marcos said.
Marcos then posed the question on where the floodwaters should go. “Bukod doon ay papaano natin, huwag natin naman sana tinatapon ‘yung tubig dahil ay kailangan na natin ‘yang tubig na ‘yan. So gumagawa rin kami ng paraan para maipon ang tubig.” he said.
According to the President, the government is looking for locations outside Metro Manila where it can put up large impounding areas to control water flow and avoid flooding.
“Para doon natin kokontrolin, hindi na papasok dito sa Maynila, at mayroon pa tayong naipon na tubig para sa agrikultura, para sa iba’t ibang gamit,” he said.
Marcos underscored the need for a comprehensive plan to control where the floodwaters should go and what should be done.
“At ‘yan ang aming tinitingnan nang mabuti at kahit papaano ay nagagawa naman natin na maproteksyunan ang mga nakatira sa tabi ng ilog at saka ng dagat,” he said.
The briefing also focused on other ongoing flood control projects in Pampanga, Cavite, Leyte and Cagayan De Oro City, as well as the construction of access roads leading to irrigation areas identified by the NIA under the Katubigan Program implemented jointly with the DPWH.
The highlights included the rainwater collection system program under Republic Act No. 6716, with a total cost of Php5.86 billion for the construction and installation of 6,002 rainwater collection system in various parts of the country.
Among the major flood control projects that are on the pipeline include the flood protection infrastructures in the Abra River Basin, Ranao River Basin and Tagum-Libuganon River Basin, the Central Luzon-Pampanga River Floodway Flood Control Project, among others.
Aside from those initiatives, Marcos said the government is also monitoring the climate crisis because of its devastating effects to various sectors.
Among those who attended the briefing included Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, DENR Secretary Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga, Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos, Secretary Renato Solidum of the Department of Science and Technology and, Budget and Management Secretary Amenah Pangandaman.
Other cabinet officials also in attendance were Secretary Arsenio Balisacan of the National Economic and Development Authority, Secretary Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil of the Presidential Communications Office, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile, Special Assistant to the President Secretary Antonio Ernesto Lagdameo; and, Atty. Romando Artes, acting chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority. (PND)
