‘Water flow management’ will control floods, Marcos tells LGUs

President Ferdinand “Bongbongf” R. Marcos Jr. inspects  the Mauban Sea Wallall and Mauban Port  during the aftermath of typhoon Carina on Friday, July 26, 2024. The President also presided over a situational briefing with local officials and various heads of concerned government agencies.  (PHOTO BY YUMMIE DINGDING / PPA POOL)

MANILA, Philippines —  Local governments must rethink their flood prevention projects by understanding water flow management rather than simply as a response to recent flooding, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. said on Friday.

Marcos made the call during a situation briefing in Mauban, Quezon, where the effects of Typhoon Carina and the enhanced southwest monsoon were tackled.

In the briefing, Marcos said flood response should also know “the flow of water” and how to manage it.

“[‘Yung] padagdag lang ng padagdag ng dike, dagdagan ng isang meter (Just adding more dikes, adding one meter) – that’s not going to do it, we have to understand the flow of the water and somehow learn how to manage it so that it won’t flood to productive areas, households, residential communities and this kind of thing na nasisira ‘ang daan,” said Marcos.

The President said such a method must also be part of the government’s national plan for dealing with flooding, especially as a low-pressure area is already being monitored by the state weather bureau 1,035 kilometers east of Mindanao.

“Kailangan hindi ito ano lang eh, talagang it will have to be a national plan. Ngayon lalo at parating na ‘yung sa Mindanao, titignan na naman natin kung ano ‘yung gagawin,” he added.

(This really will have to be a national plan. Now, especially in Mindanao, we will see what to do.)

Marcos likened the flooding in Quezon to Metro Manila, where floods affected erstwhile flood-free areas.

“Hindi pwedeng isang bayan lang dito bayan doon, that’s why we’re trying to assess other significant changes kasi all our other flood control projects are in response to flooding noon, eh bago na, nagbago,” he said.

(It can’t be just one town here and one town there, that’s why we’re trying to assess other significant changes because all our other flood control projects are in response to flooding; then, well, it’s new, it’s changed.)

The President also further stressed the need for readiness, pointing out that Carina is only the first typhoon in the La Niña season.