DPWH: Phl has no integrated flood master plan

Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan admitted yesterday before a Senate panel that although there are several flood control projects in the metropolis and all over the country, these are not integrated into a comprehensive master plan that could prevent flooding in 18 major river basins.

- MARC JAYSON CAYABYAB

Bonoan confirmed that the 5,521 flood control projects, which were touted by President Marcos in his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) – are actually “immediate relief flood mitigation projects” in low-lying areas, and not part of any comprehensive master plan.

“When we came in, we found out that there were several master plans in 18 major river basins in various stages of preparations. Most of the master plans are being updated at this point in time, taking into account the climate change phenomenon and other factors that have to be incorporated into the master plan,” Bonoan said.

Senators criticized the lack of an integrated flood control master plan, which could have mitigated the difficulty experienced by people in Metro Manila during the onslaught of Typhoon Carina and the southwest monsoon last week.