Construction of 'floating houses' proposed

MANILA, Philippines - A world-renowned urban planner proposed yesterday the construction of stilt and floating houses in flood-prone areas in the country in the wake of the massive floods that submerged Metro Manila and nearby provinces triggered by continuous monsoon rains.

Architect Felino Palafox Jr. told reporters at the weekly forum in a Quezon City restaurant that people living in low-lying areas should start reinventing their homes by elevating electrical outlets from the water level.

“If the water is high then a stilt house is ideal, but a floating house is the ultimate solution to flooding since it would just float as soon as floodwater rises,” he said.

According to Palafox, the design for stilt and floating houses has been drawn in an urban study way back in 1975.

He said the natural catch basin in Metro Manila could no longer cope with the volume of water during heavy rains, therefore massive flooding would be a regular occurrence in the coming years.

Palafox said it would take at least 10 years for the government to build adequate flood control infrastructure.

He recommended to local government units to have a blue print in their respective localities to identify heavily populated areas and to help the residents make their houses flood resistant.

Palafox said legislative measures must be introduced to allow the construction of stilt houses in accordance with the country’s building code.

He said floating houses are common in countries that are below sea level like the Netherlands.

Meanwhile, Vice President Jejomar Binay recommended the strict implementation of laws and policies on land use in danger zones in the country.

Binay, concurrent chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) and the Board of Pag-Ibig Fund, also recommended the immediate implementation of a national government plan to relocate all informal settlers living in danger zones.

He said the continuous rains that submerged Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon last week should serve as a wake up call to all.

“The massive floods in Metro Manila and nearby provinces is nature’s way of telling us that we need to consistently push for urban development policies that are sustainable and relevant in the midst of climate change,” he added.

Binay said the rules that require developers to show clearances from the Mines and Geo-Hazards Bureau before starting housing projects near waterways should be strictly enforced.

He noted that Metro Manila has 580,000 informal settler families and 104,000 of them are living along rivers and waterways considered as danger zones.

He said the government and private sector should move together to fast-track the construction of medium-rise buildings and new town settlements for informal settlers.

Binay said the housing sector has already pushed for initiatives to include climate change response actions in national and local government land use policies.  – With Jose Rodel Clapano