Manila: Senator Francis Pangilinan has put forward a proposal to streamline Metro Manila's flood-control program under the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and organize the rest of the country's efforts around major river basins. This initiative aims to address flooding through a unified, science-based approach.
According to Philippines News Agency, Pangilinan emphasized the necessity for a national flood-control policy anchored on an integrated master plan with a clearly accountable lead authority for every metropolitan area or major river basin. He warned that fragmented projects could lead to wasteful spending and merely shift flooding issues from one area to another.
The proposal includes having the MMDA take the lead in planning, coordinating, and monitoring flood-control efforts across Metro Manila. Projects by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), local governments, water concessionaires, and other agencies would need to align with a single metropolitan flood-control master plan.
For areas outside Metro Manila, Pangilinan suggested that DPWH flood-control programs should be organized according to entire river basins rather than smaller political subdivisions like congressional districts, provinces, cities, or municipalities. He identified the Pampanga, Agno, Cagayan, Bicol, Agusan, and Mindanao river basins as key examples.
Highlighting the recent widespread flooding in Central Luzon due to monsoon rains, Pangilinan illustrated the necessity for a river-basin approach, particularly for the Pampanga River Basin, which affects interconnected waterways in Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Bulacan, Tarlac, and surrounding areas.
Pangilinan also advocated for a public database detailing the budget, contractor, specifications, timetable, and master-plan component of each flood-control project. Project selection should be informed by hydrological studies, hazard maps, climate projections, and data from Project NOAH and other scientific institutions.
He further proposed independent audits to assess not only the adherence to project specifications but also their effectiveness in reducing flooding without exacerbating conditions in other areas.
Pangilinan noted that similar principles have been recommended by organizations such as the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency, National Economic and Development Authority, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, and Project NOAH through their flood-management and climate-resilience frameworks.
He stated that it is time to overhaul the current flood-control system in the country, advocating for a master plan with a transparent chain of accountability and measurable results for river basins and metropolitan areas.
