Smarter flood management, zero corruption

History has shown us that floods have always been a feature of Philippine life, especially in Cebu, as historian Michael Cullinane pointed out in a forum over a week ago that featured the city's old maps showing floodplains and waterways.

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Therefore, flood management, of which flood control is only one component, should be the focus of our efforts, because not all floods are meant to be controlled. The goal should be to reduce flood risks, particularly the damage to human lives and property. Against nature, human engineering is no match. And of course, budgets are limited as well.

In fact, Malacañang's own investigation shows that the Philippines has already spent P545 billion on flood management since 2022. Data from GMA Integrated News Research further reveals that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) received about 980.25 billion for flood control projects from 2023 to 2025. Senator Panfilo Lacson estimates that over the past 15 years, the DPWH has spent a staggering P2 trillion on flood management.

How, then, can one explain this headline from PhilStar.com: “Philippines spends billions on flood projects, but disasters keep killing”?