President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to revamp its flood control strategies, emphasizing the need for integration with other sectors to optimize water management and conservation efforts.
During a press briefing on Tuesday, DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan underscored the President’s directive to develop effective flood control programs.
“You know, I think we have to integrate our flood control management programs with the other sectors so that the water that we manage in the flood control does not go to the sea indirectly and to the extent possible that we have to conserve and utilize it for the other purposes like for irrigation, water supply and power if necessary,” Bonoan said
Bonoan further elaborated on the President’s instructions, emphasizing the necessity to incorporate additional structures for irrigation, water supply, and power generation within the department’s flood control projects, given the substantial increase in the multi-year budget allocated for such initiatives.
Bonoan stated that for 2024, the DPWH’s budget for flood control projects exceeded P300 billion, presenting a significant opportunity to develop an integrated water resource management program.
During a recent sectoral meeting, President Marcos reiterated the importance of a comprehensive water resource master plan, particularly in light of climate phenomena such as El Niño and La Niña.
He called for concerted efforts to explore foreign funding opportunities for priority investment areas and emphasized the ongoing development of National Irrigation Administration (NIA) dams for multipurpose use, including agricultural irrigation, freshwater supply, power generation, and flood control.
Last year, President Marcos signed an executive order establishing the Water Management Office (WMO) within the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), underscoring his administration’s commitment to sustainable water resource management.