By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos | Philippine News Agency
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday convened the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) to discuss proposals aimed at strengthening the country’s infrastructure resilience and water security.
The President’s eighth meeting with the PSAC at Malacañan Palace in Manila focused on measures to make Philippine infrastructure safer and more resilient against disasters, Palace Press Officer and Undersecretary Claire Castro said.
Among the agenda items were structural resilience and building safety; the quality and safety of imported cement; disaster resilience and flood management; and water security and infrastructure resilience.
Usec. Castro emphasized the importance of sustained cooperation between the government and the private sector in addressing infrastructure and climate-related challenges: “Sa tulong ng pinagsamang kilos ng pamahalaan at mga rekomendasyon ng private sector, inaasahang magiging mas ligtas at matibay ang ating mga imprastraktura laban sa mga sakuna gamit ang building materials na mas mataas ang kalidad.”
She also said the meeting also tackled measures to mitigate flooding in communities around Laguna de Bay and southern Metro Manila.
President Marcos Jr. and the PSAC also discussed more proactive and appropriate responses to climate-related water risks to strengthen the country’s water security and climate resilience.
The meeting also focused on accelerating the development of water infrastructure projects across the country.
The President earlier stressed the need to ensure compliance with quality construction standards and strengthen the structural resilience of buildings during disasters.
He also called for the updating of master plans for major river basins, review of the proposed construction of a spillway in Parañaque City and the expedited completion of water supply projects in areas severely affected by the El Niño phenomenon.
The meeting was attended by several government officials and private-sector experts who discussed policy recommendations and initiatives to address key infrastructure and development concerns.
The adoption of the PSAC recommendations is expected to result in safer and more disaster-resilient infrastructure, reduced flood risks in communities around Laguna de Bay and southern Metro Manila, and enhanced water security and climate resilience.
