The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said it has developed individual master plans for the 18 major river basins in the country, including the Pasig, and Marikina rivers in the National Capital Region (NCR) to mitigate flooding during heavy rains.
Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan said these master plans are tailored to address the specific characteristics and needs of each area, ensuring more efficient and targeted management of flood risks.
“While there is no single nationwide master plan for flood control, our decentralized strategy allows us to customize solutions for each major river basin, considering their unique geographical, hydrological, and environmental conditions,” Bonoan said.
“To maintain the relevance and efficacy, the DPWH updated these master plans as needed to account for ongoing developments such as urbanization, climate change, and other environmental factors. Regular updates allow us to incorporate the latest data, technologies, and best practices to ensure our strategies remain robust and responsive to new challenges,” Bonoan added.
The DPWH official has compared flood control planning to national road planing, saying, “rivers cross multiple political boundaries, requiring coordinated efforts among various local and national entities. In contrast, national road planning can be segmented and managed within clear political boundaries, simplifying the process.”
He said collaboration with local government units, other national agencies, and international partners is essential from the crafting of the master plan and feasibility study to the detailed engineering design and realization of specific flood management projects.
He said flood control measures effective in one basin may not be suitable for another due to differences in river flow, topography, rainfall patterns, and land use.
“Factors such as mountains, plains, coastal areas, ecosystems, soil types, vegetation cover, urbanization, agricultural activities, and infrastructure developments all play crucial roles in shaping these master plans,” he said.
He said the DPWH is currently coordinating with the international organizations such as the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Asian Development Bank (ADB), World Bank (WB), and Export–Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM) for the implementation of these master plans.
