DPWH: Philippines has no integrated flood master plan

MANILA, Philippines — Public Works Secretary Manuel Badmitted yesterday before a Senate panel that although there are several flood control projects in the metropolis and all over the country, these are not integrated into a comprehensive master plan that could prevent flooding in 18 major river basins.

Bonoan confirmed that the 5,521 flood control projects, which were touted by President Marcos in his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) – are actually “immediate relief flood mitigation projects” in low-lying areas, and not part of any comprehensive master plan.

“When we came in, we found out that there were several master plans in 18 major river basins in various stages of preparations. Most of the master plans are being updated at this point in time, taking into account the climate change phenomenon and other factors that have to be incorporated into the master plan,” Bonoan said.

Senators criticized the lack of an integrated flood control master plan, which could have mitigated the difficulty experienced by people in Metro Manila during the onslaught of Typhoon Carina and the southwest monsoon last week.

The Senate committee on public works questioned officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) why their flood control projects failed to address the problem, which kept occuring every time he country is hit by typhoons and bad weather.

Bonoan’s admission confirmed the senators’ suspicions that the lack of a comprehensive master plan worsens flooding every typhoon season.

“So there is an admission that an integrated master plan does not exist, because these are separate, piecemeal projects not aligned with each other,” Sen. Imee Marcos said in Filipino.

Marcos bared a zero budget in the 2025 National Expenditure Program for foreign-assisted flood control projects, which instead were put under unprogrammed funds.

Sen. Joel Villanueva said the lack of planning also means that floodwaters in Metro Manila subside, but remain longer in nearby catch basin provinces like Bulacan.

The country spends P1.44 billion per day for flood control projects, which only go down the drain every rainy season, Villanueva said.

Bonoan said integrating all flood control masterplans would take time as there is a need to first conduct a feasibility study and a detailed engineering design, as well as secure a financing program with a lending institution.

“There is an engineering component, there is a social component, and there is an environmental component in the master plan,” Bonoan said.

MMDA chairman Romando Artes said indiscriminate garbage dumping clogs the waterways and slows down the flow of floodwater into the sea.

Meanwhile, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources is conducting a “cumulative impact assessment” to determine if the Manila Bay reclamation project worsened the flooding in coastal areas.

Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga said initial study indicated that reclamation projects impede the flow of water and changes the circulation and retention of pollutants and organic materials in the bay.