By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet

On the heels of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s marching orders on concerned agencies to address persistent flooding woes in his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 28, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) vowed to conduct an audit on flood control projects to assess their condition and effectiveness, as well as reinvigorate its efforts on flood mitigation.

In partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Public Works agency is fast-tracking its collaborative efforts to finalize the updated flood control master plans for the Pasig-Marikina and Cagayan River Basins—two major waterways in Luzon that play a crucial role in supporting the economic growth and development of Metro Manila and the Cagayan Valley Region.

The discussion, led by DPWH Senior Undersecretary Emil Sadain and JICA Senior Representative Takanori Morishima on Tuesday, also aims to bolster disaster resilience through both structural and non-structural interventions in affected locales.

Sadain said, noting the urgency of completing the master plan reports, “In response to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to revise the flood control master plans and expand infrastructure capacity to address increasing flood risks and climate change threats, the DPWH, under the leadership of Secretary Manuel Bonoan, sought the assistance of the JICA Study Team to fast-track the completion of the pre-feasibility study of each river basin.” 

He added, “Once finalized, the updated master plan reports will be submitted to DEPDev for review and approval, with pre-feasibility studies expected to begin in early 2026. These studies and proposed measures in a holistic approach are anticipated to support integrated water resources management, improve interagency coordination, and enhance the overall risk and reduction efforts in Luzon.”

Proposed flood mitigation initiatives

Meanwhile, JICA Senior Representative Morishima reaffirmed JICA’s commitment to the Government of the Philippines (GOP), emphasizing its long-standing friendship and partnership, and reiterated its unwavering support for building resilient and climate-adaptive flood control infrastructure that can withstand the worsening impacts of changing weather patterns.

Chief among the countermeasures brought up in the discussion were the construction of two flow-through dams and four retarding basins in Quezon City and the towns of San Mateo and Rodriguez in Rizal, along with river improvement works that are part of the Pasig-Marikina River Channel Improvement Project by the DPWH, with technical assistance from JICA.

A master plan for the San Juan River was also brought into focus, which includes solutions such as dredging and embankment improvements in Manila, San Juan, and Quezon City; an underground retention channel in Quezon City leading to the Pasig River, and an underground spillway from Quezon City to Manila.

Subsequently, the draft masterplan report for the Cagayan River Basin was presented by JICA Study Team Leader Takahiro Mishina, proposing to construct four flood control dams, namely: Siffu, Malig, Ilagan, and Cagayan—all traversing the northeastern part of Luzon. It also includes river improvement works and dredging in the Magapit section of the lower Cagayan River.

Also present in the meeting were key representatives from various agencies, including:

• Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev)
• Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
• Department of Energy (DOE)
• Department of Finance (DOF)
• Department of Interior and the Local Government (DILG)
• Department of Science and Technology (DOST)
• Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA)
• National Irrigation Administration (NIA)
• Climate Change Commission (CCC)

jpv