The recommendations include short- and long-term proposals, which include new government rules for real estate developers to install rainwater storage systems, widening key waterways, and establishing a dedicated government body overseeing flood control management.
“For us, it’s not just about solving today’s issues—it’s about creating long-term, sustainable solutions that ensure the safety and well-being of all Filipinos,” said tycoon Sabin Aboitiz, lead convener of PSAC and president and CEO of conglomerate Aboitiz Equity Ventures.
Priority projects
The PSAC’s proposals include building retarding basins and dams along important rivers and waterways to help control water flow.
It also suggests passing ordinances that require property developers to install systems that can hold and manage rainwater.
Additionally, PSAC emphasizes the need to enforce existing easement laws, which would clear obstacles—such as informal settlements—that block natural floodways.
Garbage Traps
To prevent drainage systems from getting clogged, PSAC recommends using coconut-based garbage traps in local communities (barangays).
They also call for a thorough plan for managing key waterways and bridges, particularly those that affect major roads like EDSA and Roxas Boulevard.
Private sector ready to step in via PPPs
PSAC encourages local government units (LGUs) to work together, adopt a unified strategy, and invest in waste-to-energy projects through public-private partnerships (PPP) to help manage waste and reduce flooding risks.
PSAC also recommends dredging the Napindan River to improve the water outflow from Laguna de Bay, which can help reduce flooding in the surrounding areas.
The Water Resources Management Office (WRMO), in collaboration with the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF), will oversee these flood mitigation efforts.
Dedicated flood control management
PSAC advocates for combining water and drainage management responsibilities under a new Department of Water Resources. This would help streamline flood control efforts across different agencies.
Other long-term plans include widening the Manggahan Floodway to allow more water flow and starting a nationwide watershed restoration program, focusing on high-priority areas like Marikina. Restoring forests (reforestation) will play a key role in helping the environment recover.
PSAC also suggests revisiting the Paranaque Spillway project, which was initially proposed to help manage floodwaters, and constructing a flood diversion tunnel to direct excess water from the Upper Marikina River to the Pacific Ocean, reducing the flood risk.
