PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Saturday to revisit the Bicol River Basin Development Program (BRBDP) as a critical flood control measure for the Bicol Region following severe flooding caused by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami).

In a situation briefing in Naga City, Camarines Sur, Marcos directed Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan to reevaluate the BRBDP, noting that such a program could address recurring flooding in the region.

"Next time it rains, here we are again. It would be the same situation all over again. So, we have to find a long-term solution. I am studying this, and I found that in 1973 there was the Bicol River Basin Development Project," Marcos said.

"I have here a study from someone from UP (University of the Philippines) that assessed the effects of the BRBDP. Despite some challenges, it contributed a lot. However, it was not finished. In 1986 when the government changed, the project was lost, it was stopped. So, we have to revisit it now," he added.

The BRBDP was launched in the 1970s as a geography-based development initiative for the Bicol Region, primarily funded by the US Agency for International Development with support from the Asian Development Bank and the European Economic Community.

Marcos said the program was "very advantageous" to the community, designed not only to address chronic flooding but also to support farm-to-market roads essential for agriculture.

The program's benefits were noted in the mid-1980s, with road improvements in road access leading to greater mobility, reduced travel times and enhanced access to markets, medical services, and educational and other facilities.

Marcos issued the statement after he observed that floods do not instantly subside in the Bicol Region after heavy downpour, as compared to Batangas and Cavite.

He pointed out that rainfall in the Bicol Region was "double" that of Ondoy in 2009, where 1 meter of water was dumped in the area.

"The conditions are different now, with the advent of climate change," Marcos said.

Following the onslaught of Kristine, Marcos said the government has to specifically focus on flood control.

"Now we have to focus specifically on flood control because... there was too much water that we couldn't handle it anymore. We have flood control, but they can't handle too much water," Marcos said.

"There wasn't a forecast for this. This is really because of climate change. This is all new so we have to come up with also new solutions," he added.

Meanwhile, Bonoan informed the President that the BRBDP was updated in July this year under a Philippine-Korea project, which includes a feasibility study for flood control.

The DPWH chief said they were expecting to complete a detailed engineering design by early next year, with civil works expected to start by late 2025 or early 2026.

On October 22, Kristine dumped two months' worth of rain — an unprecedented 500 millimeters (1.64 feet) — in just 24 hours, resulting in landslides and widespread flooding.

Bicol was among the hardest hit regions, with several residential areas and agricultural lands submerged, affecting over 1.8 million people or 384,436 families.

In Naga City, floodwaters have inundated much of the town proper and several residential areas.

In Albay, lahar flows have been reported in Barangay Masarawag in Guinobatan and Barangay Binitayan in Daraga.

Read The Rest at :