Old river basin in Bicol eyed for flood mitigation

MANILA, Philippines — Local officials have been instructed to look into an old river basin project that could possibly help address flooding in the Bicol Region.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. made the directive while inspecting evacuation areas in Naga City on Saturday, October 26, and providing cash assistance and food packs to the victims of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine.

Marcos was referring to the project of his late father, former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., in 1973 — the Bicol River Basin Development Program (BRBDP), which was funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) with support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the European Economic Community.

Marcos said the effects of climate change will only worsen typhoons in the future and called on the government to focus its resources on flood mitigation.

“Yun lamang, hindi natapos. In 1986, when the government changed, nawala na ‘yung project. Basta’t natigil. So, we have to revisit it now. Iba na ang conditions ngayon with the advent of climate change," Marcos said during a public briefing.

(That's it, it wasn't completed. In 1986, when the government changed, the project was abandoned. It just stopped. So, we have to revisit it now. The conditions are different now with the advent of climate change.)

"Now, we have to focus specifically on flood control. The others, marami naman tayong mga plano for the rest of it. But we have to focus now on flood control,” he added.

(Now, we need to focus specifically on flood control. As for the others, we have many plans for those. But we have to focus now on flood control.) 

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, 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 in their localities.

The storm also reportedly killed 85 people, while 70 were injured.

Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan said a detailed engineering design of the BRBDP will be completed by early 2025.

Marcos was also accompanied by Special Assistant to the President Anton Lagdameo, Department of Social Welfare and