Quezon city: The country began identifying flood-prone areas in its urban plans decades ago, but failure to consistently follow those plans has left some of the same areas vulnerable to flooding today, University of the Philippines (UP) Resilience Institute Executive Director Mahar Lagmay said Friday. In a radio interview, Lagmay confirmed an earlier statement by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. that the country has had a flood-control master plan for years, but it was not fully implemented.
According to Philippines News Agency, Lagmay highlighted findings from Quezon City and Cebu, where master plans date back as early as 1941 and 1936, respectively. These plans identified specific areas meant to remain as green spaces to mitigate flooding risks. 'We found something in Quezon City and Cebu. Quezon City already had a plan in 1941; Cebu City already had a plan in 1936. Now what we are looking at, we are comparing it to the flood-prone areas, and it fits perfectly. Their plan aligns with the green spaces that should be parks, where there should be no housing, no settlements,' Lagmay said.
He emphasized that historical knowledge of flood-prone areas existed even before World War II, with the principle of leaving floodplains open to naturally accommodate excess water. However, over time, adherence to these plans was disrupted by changing administrations and historical events, leading to urban development in these critical areas. 'It will accommodate water so that our flood management will be better, easier. But what happened was, there was a change in administration, there was a war, and adherence to that was somewhat forgotten, so even the green spaces that could have helped with our flood management did not push through, and those are the areas that are now flooded,' he pointed out.
Lagmay further explained the role of Project NOAH (Nationwide Operational Assessments of Hazards), a government-led initiative that uses scientific data and technology for identifying disaster-vulnerable areas. The project aims to integrate hazard and flood information into planning, with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) consulting Project NOAH for design suggestions and policy recommendations. 'The DPWH consults us on designs, and then we suggest policies, especially now with climate change where what used to be occasional big floods are now happening frequently,' he said.
With climate change exacerbating the frequency and severity of rains, Lagmay noted the importance of adapting old drainage systems to handle more floodwater. Project NOAH advocates for a comprehensive approach to existing problems, focusing on community planning and zoning to preserve natural waterways. 'And that is our direction, we should have planned the community, which is why the master plan is important. That is now called the comprehensive land use and development plan. We should follow it, plan and zone the community, preserve the green spaces, and take the right steps not only regarding the flood but also, once we identify the flood, what interventions we need,' he said.
Lagmay emphasized the need for an evidence-based, holistic approach to flood management, with the government allocating PHP1 billion to enhance hazard, flood, and drainage maps. 'That's the direction we're taking. The government allocated PHP1 billion to start this kind of program to improve our hazard map, flood map, and drainage map,' he said, highlighting the commitment to mitigate the impact of flooding on Filipino communities.
