Flood management must include impact of reclamation

The rainy season is here and we have been experiencing floods here and there, especially in low-lying areas.

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For instance in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces, among the low-lying areas are Manila, Pasay City, Navotas, Malabon, and parts of Cavite, Bulacan, and Pampanga.

While stopping floods may be impossible, human intervention could either mitigate or aggravate it.

This is why House Bill No. 170, or the proposed Flood Management Act of 2025, and House Bill No. 171 or the Waste Treatment Technology Act, both authored by Valenzuela City 1st District Representative Kenneth Gatchalian, come as a welcome development.

HB 170 is particularly striking. Unlike past efforts that responded to disaster only after devastation had already been carved into our homes, this bill charts a new course—one rooted in prevention, resilience, and foresight. It recognizes a truth we’ve known too long but acted on too rarely: that we cannot keep rebuilding what we refuse to protect in the first place. With Metro Manila and many other parts of the country living under the shadow of annual deluges, this shift from reactive band-aid solutions to a robust, proactive flood mitigation strategy is both wise and vital.