Manila: The country is using a science-driven approach to help address flood risks in urban areas through the 'Oplan Kontra Baha,' a multi-sector initiative that integrates data analysis, simulation modeling, infrastructure upgrades, and nature-based solutions.
According to Philippines News Agency, in a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon interview on Tuesday, Mahar Lagmay of the University of the Philippines-based Project NOAH (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards) emphasized the importance of a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to develop watershed-based flood interventions in major cities in Metro Manila and Cebu; Bacolod in Negros Island; and Naga, Camarines Sur in the Bicol Region, where flooding has become more frequent and severe.
Lagmay emphasized that flooding is rarely caused by a single factor, saying a combination of environmental and infrastructure-related issues must be addressed together. He stated that these overlapping causes require multiple coordinated solutions, including a wide range of structural and nature-based interventions designed to improve water flow and reduce the impacts of flooding, rather than isolated interventions.
He also cited dredging, pumping stations, drainage upgrades, and green infrastructure such as parks, retention and detention basins, and bioswales, among others, as part of the broader approach. Lagmay said the government's approach under the comprehensive Oplan Kontra Baha shifts away from reactive solutions.
The current strategy requires coordination with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) before implementing any project. Lagmay warned that climate change is intensifying rainfall patterns, which makes historical flood experiences less reliable for planning. He also noted that areas once considered low-risk are now experiencing flooding due to more extreme rainfall that exceeds past design assumptions.
Lagmay emphasized the importance of nature-based solutions such as reforestation, retention basins, and protecting natural drainage systems for long-term strategies. He said that development and infrastructure built in natural waterways remain a major driver of flooding in urban areas, highlighting the importance of hazard mapping and public awareness in improving disaster response.
He also cited the need for response measures, such as informing the public to avoid hazardous areas that are normally flooded during typhoons and evacuating affected residents from so-called high-risk zones. Lagmay stressed that, aside from implementing flood management and control programs, educating the public is equally important.
