Cayetano bats for interagency cooperation on reclamation projects to mitigate flooding

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Monday urged Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan to strengthen the Department’s interagency collaboration in order to improve the oversight of reclamation projects and mitigate flooding risks.

Cayetano made the call during the Senate Committee on Finance’s budget briefing of the proposed 2025 budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Monday, September 9, 2024.

“Personally, I frown upon interagency coordination because it’s preferable for a single agency to be responsible. But in this case, when massive floods occur… It’s crucial to have interagency collaboration [on reclamation projects] because I’m not sure if the DENR is technically equipped for the engineering aspects of reclamation,” he told Bonoan.

Currently, the Department of Environment and Natural Resource (DENR) oversees compliance and ensures that the conditions for issuing Environmental Compliance Certificates (ECCs) and area clearances are met.

During the hearing, Cayetano asked Bonoan about the agency’s role in approving reclamation projects, particularly in addressing issues like flooding.

Bonoan replied that the DPWH primarily assesses the technical aspects of reclamation projects, ensuring these do not interfere with existing flood control systems.

Once the assessment shows no impediments, he said the DPWH issues “no objection,” but this assessment is limited to the location of the reclamation only.

Cayetano, however, expressed concerns about whether or not this process is enough. He cited successful reclamation projects in Singapore and Hong Kong but emphasized that climate change and stronger storms could turn poorly planned reclamations into serious risks.

“People could point out to me possible successful reclamations. On the other hand [nakakaranas tayo ng] mga unexpected storms ngayon, pati climate change,” he said.

“Every time there’s massive flooding, someone throws the question, ‘Ito bang reclamation ang may problema?” he added.

Cayetano proposed that the DPWH collaborate with the DENR, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to develop an improved, science-based geohazard mapping, similar to Project NOAH (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards).

The senator emphasized that when findings for an area, such as those in geohazard maps, are made public, it becomes challenging for external influences to affect flood control projects as decisions will be guided by scientific evidence.

Recalling the rapid urbanization in areas like the City of Taguig and Pateros which had led to flooding as rice fields and other natural water-absorbent areas were replaced by housing, Cayetano urged the government to take a more cautious approach to reclamation.“

I’m just saying if the government is just saying ‘yes’ [to reclamation projects], let us be firm sa regulation na y’ung best engineering, environment, and architectural urban planning ay i-implement natin,” he said.