PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. yesterday said the government plans to build multi-use infrastructures and improved weather forecasting to address flooding and eventually lessen its impact on communities and the agriculture sector.
The President, in a media interview in Zamboanga City, said climate change is already taking its toll on communities especially in areas that do not usually experience flooding but are now inundated because of changing weather patterns.
Marcos said because of this, flood control is no longer limited to putting up dikes or dams but should now also include more accurate weather forecasts.
He said the flood control program of the government now also involves the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) and other concerned agencies.
“Nagbago na, hindi lang iyung paglagay ng dike, hindi lang ‘yung paglagay ng dam, kung hindi pati na ang pagbantay nang mabuti sa panahon (It has changed. Flood control is no longer limited to putting up dikes, putting up dams, but also includes proper monitoring of the weather),” he said.
“Lahat-lahat sila nagtutulungan para itong mga bagong pag-ulan na ganito ay at least… kung alam natin may parating, eh makapaghanda man lang tayo (All agencies would now work together in monitoring if there are rains coming… if we know it’s coming, we can prepare),” he added.
The President said that apart from the improved weather monitoring and forecast, the government also needs to build “multi-function” flood control infrastructures.
Marcos said instead of just building a dam, there should also be a catchment mechanism or an impounding pool to be able to use the flood waters for irrigation and even in fish pens.
“Maganda ‘yan dahil unang-una hindi nasasayang ‘yung tubig, may iiwan doon sa atin. Tapos pagka-medyo tuyo, pag hindi na umuulan, gamitin natin ‘yung tubig para pang-irrigation ulit, puwede pang lagyan ng isda (That is good because we will no longer wastewater. If we impound them, then during the dry period and when there is no rain, we can use that water for irrigation and even for fishery,” he said.
The government is already conducting a feasibility study on putting up an initial catchment facility at the Candaba swamp area to address flooding in parts of Pampanga and determine if it will be effective in other parts of the country.
The President previously created the Water Resources Management Office (WRMO), under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), that was tasked to create a comprehensive plan to prevent flooding in Metro Manila and coastal communities. It shall also address the country’s water and sanitation sector, climate change impact, lack of water infrastructure, increasing water demand due to population and economic growth, as well as regulation issues.
