President Marcos: Redesign flood control, slope protection

CEBU, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. wants a scientific design for flood control and slope protection infrastructures to properly respond to the threats posed by climate change.

The president noted that recent calamities, including flooding, are unprecedented not only here in the Philippines but even in other countries. He said that existing flood control structures have been overwhelmed, suggesting that Science must be followed to address the challenges posed by the changing weather pattern.

“Tingnan ninyo hindi lamang dito. Nakita niyo ba ‘yung nangyari sa Espanya? Nakita niyo ba ‘yung mga nangyayari sa iba’t ibang lugar? Sa States ‘yung mga nangyayari? Ganyan din. Doon din sa mga lugar na ‘yun ay ngayon lang nangyari ‘yan,” Marcos told reporters.

The President said that flood control and slope protection should be re-designed.

“Kaya’t [ang] gagawin natin babaguhin natin ang mga design, patitibayin natin ‘yang mga infrastructure, mga flood control, ‘yung mga slope protection, pati ‘yung mga tulay, lahat ‘yan kailangan nating baguhin. Tingnan natin ang mas magandang design,” the president said.

“We have to be smarter, we have to be more technologically aware of what is available so that we can reduce the effects…It’s the reason why the country fought for and won the hosting of the Loss and Damage Board in the Philippines,” he added.

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has been instructed to improve its warning systems and establish a standard procedure for the gradual release of water from dams before typhoons to reduce flood risks.

“Inatasan natin ang DOST na pagbutihin ang kanilang mga warning system. Nagbibigay tagubilin na rin ako sa mga ahensya na gawing standard operating procedure na ang dahan dahan na pagpapalabas ng tubig mula sa mga dam bago pa man dumating ang bagyo nang maiwasan ang matinding pagbaha,” Marcos said.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and other agencies were also directed to revise their flood control masterplan and expand the capacity of infrastructures to handle increasing flood risks.

The president stressed the importance of modern, climate-resilient designs for roads and bridges, ensuring these structures are safe, durable, and adaptable to the changing climate.

“Nagbigay direktiba na rin tayo sa DPWH, DENR at iba pang mag ahensya na rebisahin ang mga Flood Control Masterplans. Ito ay upang kayanin ng mga imprastraktura natin ang matinding pagbaha na nangyari kada-isang daang taon, ngunit ngayon ay nagiging mas madalas na,” Marcos said.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has been assigned to ensure that all construction materials meet standards for quality, safety, and climate adaptability.

“Hindi lang sapat na ang mga proyektong imprastraktura ay matapos ng DPWH sa inaasahang oras. Kailangan din na ang mga materyales at ang mag pagkakagawa ng mga proyektong ito ay tiyak na de-kalidad, ligtas, at makakatagal sa pagbabagong panahon. Kaugnay nito, inaatasan ko rin ang DTI na pagtutuunan ng pansin ang mga materyales at instrumentong gagamitin sa pagpapatayo ng mga ito,” Marcos said. — (FREEMAN)