President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. vowed a long-term flood control project in the Bicol Region, emphasizing that climate change and increasingly severe weather patterns have made urgent action essential.
Following a briefing at the Naga City Hall with local leaders, the President said that flood-prone areas can no longer rely solely on temporary measures. Instead, a more robust flood control strategy is necessary to protect the region’s communities and infrastructure.
“This is the new situation we face with climate change, with storms bringing extreme rainfall and causing unprecedented floods,” Mr. Marcos said.
He noted that the recent storm brought nearly double the rainfall recorded during Tropical Storm Ondoy, which set a benchmark for flooding in 2009.
The cornerstone of Marcos’ plan is the revival and reconfiguration of the Bicol River Basin Development Project. Originally started in 1973, the project aimed to bolster community development alongside flood control.
However, it was halted in 1986 before completion. The President said that this time, the project would focus exclusively on flood control to address the region’s escalating vulnerability to severe weather.
“We cannot afford to wait any longer. Flooding like this will continue, so we’re putting immediate attention on implementing a large-scale solution specifically for flood control,” Marcos said.
The updated project will collaborate with the Korea Eximbank to study effective flood prevention for the Bicol River Basin, targeting improvements to river and waterway infrastructure to handle higher volumes of water. Its design aims to prevent water from backing up into communities and rural areas, a frequent issue in areas like Naga and Bula.
The President added that officials plan to break ground on the project within the next two years, signaling a long-term commitment to making the Bicol region more resilient to natural disasters.
“This project will be transformative for the Bicol region,” Marcos said, highlighting that flood control measures will provide lasting protection for residents while reducing the need for emergency rescues and aid.
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