The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) reaffirmed its commitment to provide long-term solutions to address the country’s recurrent flooding, especially in Metro Manila.

DPWH said it has no centralized master plan for flood control, instead it has developed individual master plans for each of the 18 major river basins in the Philippines to address the increasing frequency and intensity of rainfall attributed to climate change.

Manuel Bonoan, DPWH secretary, said the decentralized strategy allows them to update the master plan to address the specific needs of each area, ensuring more efficient and targeted management of flood risks.

“While there is no single nationwide master plan for flood control, our decentralized strategy allows us to customize solutions for each major river basin, considering their unique geographical, hydrological, and environmental conditions,” said Bonoan.

DPWH noted the necessity for customized solutions given the diverse nature of each river basin.

“To maintain the relevance and efficacy, the DPWH updates these master plans as needed to account for ongoing developments such as urbanization, climate change, and other environmental factors. Regular updates allow us to incorporate the latest data, technologies, and best practices to ensure our strategies remain robust and responsive to new challenges,” Bonoan added.

DPWH pointed out  collaboration with local government units, other national agencies as well as international partners is essential from the crafting of the master plan and feasibility study to the detailed engineering design and realization of specific flood management projects.

DPWH’s flood control efforts are bolstered by partnerships with international organizations, such as the Japan International Cooperation Agency, Asian Development Bank, World Bank and Export-Import Bank of Korea.

One notable example of the effectiveness of these master plans is the newly constructed floodwater reservoir project in Imus City, Cavite, also known as the Imus River Basin Flood Control Project, DPWH said.

These temporary storage ponds significantly reduce the extent, level and duration of flooding in surrounding low-lying areas, offering much-needed relief and protection to vulnerable communities, it added.

The retarding basins, connected by sluiceways to hold floodwaters and reduce the peak volume of flood flow at Imus River and Bacoor River, have successfully managed or mitigated the challenges of the rainy season for Imus and Bacoor, areas highly susceptible to rain-induced flash flooding.

Other completed flood control facilities include the Flood Risk Management Projects for the Cagayan and Tagoloan Rivers, Leyte Tide Embankment Project, Integrated Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation Measures in the Low Lying Areas of Pampanga Bay-Stage 1, and several phases of the Pasig Marikina River Flood Control Project.