Manila: The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has pledged to enhance its oversight and monitoring capabilities after uncovering numerous overlapping and inadequately positioned flood control projects nationwide. This comes in the wake of an assessment by DENR Undersecretary Carlos Primo David, who informed the Senate Finance Committee about the evaluation of over 5,300 flood control projects from 2021 to 2024.
According to Philippines News Agency, David emphasized the DENR’s commitment to collaborate with the inter-agency Sub-Committee to improve the reporting and monitoring system, enhance interagency coordination, and work towards a more integrated approach to flood and water resource development before project implementation. The Sub-Committee on Water Resources aims to foster convergence in government water projects, eliminate duplication, and promote accountability.
David highlighted the use of geospatial data analytics and artificial intelligence in monitoring projects. The findings are compiled in an online dashboard, shared with the Presidential Management Staff (PMS), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), facilitating validation of the assessments on the ground. The findings revealed several issues, including duplicate, incomplete, or poorly located projects, and in some instances, structures that exacerbate flooding in adjacent areas.
David cited examples of problematic projects, including eight separate ventures along the Camiling River in Tarlac, funded over different years but overlapping in location. He pointed out a PHP99-million project that covered only 200 meters, equating to PHP500,000 per linear meter when plotted on a map.
The DENR also identified flood control structures lacking real protective function, such as dikes with water on both sides or those encroaching on floodplains or reclamation zones, like those along C6 in the Laguna Lake area. David recommended to the Senate the institutionalization of a centralized infrastructure monitoring system to enhance coordination, planning, and public accountability. A centralized project database would enable agencies, including Congress, to validate what is being constructed on the ground, promoting transparency and convergence while ensuring effective use of government funds.
Additionally, David advocated for a shift towards nature-based and integrated flood management strategies, emphasizing the restoration of watersheds, construction of man-made lakes and reservoirs, and conversion of floodwaters into usable resources for irrigation, aquaculture, and hydropower. He stressed the importance of continuing investigations into irregularities while also implementing reforms. David concluded by viewing the situation as an opportunity to strengthen interagency planning, enhance public accountability through transparency dashboards, and transition towards a more sustainable and integrated approach to flood management and water resources development.
