Daniela Adelaide Jaimeleen Sol Dizon

After the severe onslaught caused by tropical storm ‘Kristine,’ President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. instructed the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Saturday to make another assessment of the Bicol River Basin Development Program (BRBDP) as a flood control measure for the Bicol Region.

Photo Courtesy of MSN/Inquirer.net.

Heavy rainfall swamped the Bicol River, leading to flooding that eventually damaged infrastructure across the area.  

During a meeting in Naga City, DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan received an order from the president to resurface the BRBDP, a project that was stopped in 1986. 

Marcos believes this is one of the most effective methods and a long-term strategy to combat flooding.

“Next time it rains, (heto) na naman tayo. It would be the same situation all over again. So, we have to find a long-term solution. Pinag-aaralan ko ito and I found that in 1973 there was the Bicol River Basin Development Project,” Marcos stated.

With the assistance from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) as well as the European Community and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), these organizations funded the project, aiming to enhance Bicol’s geography. 

The president noted that it is not really possible and the flooding is due to climate change, and coming up with new solutions might be difficult.

Meanwhile, Bonoan notified the president about the management for flood assessment, which was included in the joint force between the Philippines and South Korea, and the BRBDP was updated in July of this year. 

The public’s response to the president’s move was not entirely unanimous. While some praised the initiative, others questioned his commitment to our country.