CORDS Western Visayas Prioritizes Flood Mitigation and Security

Iloilo City- In his first official visit to Western Visayas as the newly designated Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security (CORDS) for Region VI, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla underscored a revitalized approach to governance. He met with regional and local leaders to align their priorities with two critical pillars of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s agenda: resilient infrastructure and internal peace and security.

Secretary Lotilla reiterated the President’s directive to shift toward a more holistic infrastructure management strategy. He emphasized that projects by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) must align with established standards to provide better outcomes for the public.

To ensure accountability, he directed the DPWH to conduct a rigorous validation of all completed flood control and infrastructure projects within the region, intended to verify strict compliance with national engineering and environmental standards, ensuring structures can withstand the increasing severity of tropical storms. Additionally, Secretary Lotilla suggested adopting rainwater-harvesting methods to mitigate flash floods during heavy rains, while simultaneously promoting sustainable water utilization.

Furthermore, during his engagement with regional agencies, Secretary Lotilla focused on the progress of insurgency-ending initiatives under the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC). He reiterated the President’s mandate that sustainable peace can only be achieved through the prompt delivery of essential government services and the completion of vital development projects in formerly conflicted areas.

“Peace is maintained not only by laying down arms but also by rebuilding lives. Our socio-economic efforts target the root causes of conflict: poverty, exclusion, and lack of opportunity. Food assistance, emergency employment, farm-to-market roads, land patent issuance, and classroom construction, all show the government’s commitment to delivering the tangible benefits of peace to our communities,” said Secretary Lotilla.

By linking environmental stewardship with regional security, the Secretary emphasized to continue adopting the “whole-of-government” approach, uniting purpose among regional directors and emphasizing that environmental sustainability and regional security are two sides of the same coin in ensuring a resilient future for the region./DENR 6