Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan on Tuesday called for a national flood-control policy built around one integrated, science-based master plan and one clearly accountable lead authority for every metropolitan area or major river basin, warning that fragmented projects waste public funds and simply push flooding from one community to another.
“Walang kinikilalang political boundary ang tubig. Kung tingi-tingi ang plano, tingi-tingi rin ang solusyon. Ang nangyayari, tumatagos lang ang baha sa mga kalapit-bayan,” Pangilinan said.
“Kailangan nang i-overhaul ang kasalukuyang flood-control system ng bansa. Palitan ng isang master plan na may isang chain of accountability na transparent sa lahat at measurable ang results para sa mga river basin at metropolitan area,” he added.
Under the proposal, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority would lead planning, coordination, and monitoring across Metro Manila, while projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), local governments, water concessionaires, and other agencies would have to conform to a single metropolitan flood-control master plan.
Outside Metro Manila, DPWH flood-control programs would be organized around entire river basins, such as the Pampanga, Agno, Cagayan, Bicol, Agusan, and Mindanao river basins, rather than congressional districts, provinces, cities, or municipalities.
For example, in Central Luzon, which is suffering massive floods due to weeks’ long habagat-induced rains, planning for the Pampanga River Basin would cover interconnected waterways affecting Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Bulacan, Tarlac, and neighboring areas.
Pangilinan also proposed a public database identifying every project’s budget, contractor, specifications, timetable, and place in the master plan. Project selection should use hydrological studies, hazard maps, climate projections, and data from Project NOAH (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards) and other scientific institutions.
Projects should undergo independent audits measuring not merely whether they were built according to specifications, but whether they actually reduced flooding without worsening it elsewhere.
Pangilinan said similar principles have long been recommended by the World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), and Project NOAH in their flood-management and climate-resilience frameworks.
“Hindi accomplishment ang maraming proyekto kung baha pa rin ang komunidad. Hindi lang laki ng gastos ng pamahalaan ang sukatan. Sukatan din kung mas ligtas ang mga pamilya, nabawasan ang baha, at sulit ang bawat pisong ginastos sa proyekto,” Pangilinan said.
“Bilyon-bilyon ang ginagastos taon-taon. Dasurv ng taumbayan malaman kung sino ang responsable, ano ang plano, at kung sumakses ba ito. Sa flood control, dapat wala ng turuan dahil may isang plano, may malinaw na pananagutan, may measurable results,” he added.
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