MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. over the weekend instructed local officials in Bicol to revisit an old river basin project which could help address future flooding in the region.
The chief executive floated the idea as he made rounds in various evacuation areas in Naga City last Saturday, October 26, to provide cash assistance and food packs to the victims of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine.
He was accompanied by Special Assistant to the President Anton Lagdameo, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr., and Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla.
Marcos was referring to the Bicol River Basin Development Program (BRBDP) — a brainchild of his father, former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr. in 1973, which was funded by the US Agency for International Development with support from the Asian Development Bank and the European Economic Community.
The president hands some P30 million calamity aasistance to Naga City for the victims of typhoon Kristine. SAP Anton Lagdameo and DILG Sec Remulla look on. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Marcos said that the effects of climate change will only worsen typhoons in the future, thus he wants the government to focus its resources on flood mitigation.
“It wasn’t finished. In 1986, when the government changed, the project was halted. So, we have to revisit it now. The conditions have changed,” the President said during a situational briefing.
“Now, we have to focus specifically on flood control. The others, we have many plans for the rest of it. But we have to focus now on flood control,” he added.
Data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council showed that over 4.2 million people in Bicol were affected by the storm, with a total of 19 local government units declaring a state of calamity.
Kristine also left 85 people dead.
Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan said that a detailed engineering design of the BRBDP will be completed by early 2025.
