Marcos flags mismatch between flood control projects, flood-prone areas
Sen. Bam Aquino wants a Senate probe into flood-control projects. Shown here is the flooded historic Barasoain Church in the City of Malolos, Bulacan. (INQUIRER / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA)
MANILA, Philippines—President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday raised concerns about a mismatch between the country’s most flood-prone provinces and those that received the most number of flood control projects.
Marcos, in a press conference, revealed the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) data listing the 10 provinces with the most flood control projects:
- Bulacan – 668
- Cebu – 414
- Isabela – 341
- Pangasinan – 313
- Pampanga – 292
- Albay – 273
- Leyte – 262
- Tarlac – 258
- Camarines Sur – 252
- Ilocos Norte – 224
Meanwhile, below are the most flood-prone areas based on the National Adaptation Plan of the Philippines 2023-2050:
- Pampanga
- Nueva Ecija
- Pangasinan
- Tarlac
- Bulacan
- Metro Manila
- Maguindanao
- North Cotabato
- Oriental Mindoro
- Ilocos Norte
“I think you will notice they don’t necessarily match,” Marcos said.
“Now, I’m sure there are explanations for that, but you will have to study it further. But you would intuitively say that the areas, provinces, regions, or whatever you want to do. Whatever pinaka-flood prone, ‘yun dapat pinakamaraming project (Whatever is most flood-prone, that should receive the most projects),” he noted.
By regions, Marcos said Metro Manila had topped the list with 1,058 projects amounting to P52.57 billion.
He also cited Central Luzon with 1,617 projects worth P98.01 billion and the Bicol region 5 with 866 projects worth P49.61 billion.
“The NCR makes sense kasi ‘yung flood problem talagang nadiyan, pero titignan pa natin ‘yan,” he said.
(The NCR makes sense because the flood problem is really there, but we will look into that.)
Ineffective pumping stations
Marcos also revealed that 157 of the DPWH’s 170 pumping-station projects are in Metro Manila, costing P11.67 billion.
Metro Manila and its nearby provinces were hit by widespread flooding during July’s southwest monsoon and three consecutive typhoons.
“This really, more than anything, manifests how the pumping stations have become ineffective because of the garbage collection problem,” he said.
At the press conference, Marcos also presented the Sumbong sa Pangulo website, where the public can check and report the status of flood control projects in their areas. /gsg/abc
