MANILA, Philippines — Government spending on flood-control projects in Cebu reached more than P50 billion over the past decade, according to Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon.
“More than P50 billion has been put into flood-control projects here,” Dizon said in Filipino in an interview over dzBB yesterday morning, clarifying reports that P26.7 billion was spent for flood control in Cebu.
Dizon said the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has submitted to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) a full list of Cebu flood-control projects.
“We will let the ICI investigate that. Whatever information they need about these projects, we will provide it to them,” he said, adding the DPWH was focusing on moving on from the killer flash floods that struck especially Cebu City during the onslaught of Typhoon Tino.
He said the flooding from Tino was evidence of poor planning and limited and ill-advised dike and revetment construction projects done in previous years, which failed to control runoff into Cebu’s rivers.
“Definitely, there were deficiencies, because planning was lacking,” Dizon said.
He stressed that effective flood control must include managing upstream flows before water surges into the major rivers in Cebu City, namely the Mananga and Butuanon rivers: “That’s what’s missing.”
DPWH taps Project NOAH
Dizon said that the DPWH was set on planning out flood mitigation projects with technical experts from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the University of the Philippines and UP’s Project NOAH, not just in the Cebu region but also in other areas of the country with major river waterways.
He said that starting next year, before the onset of the rainy season, agencies and local governments as well as the DPWH should already be undertaking “right and effective” flood-mitigation works.
The collaboration was confirmed by Project NOAH executive director Mahar Lagmay following a meeting with Secretary Dizon.
“We’ve never been consulted before in the sense that we take part in the planning process, in doing the master plan. But now we’re very happy that we are being consulted by DPWH,” Lagmay said, noting that previously, during Senate and House budget hearings, Project NOAH was often asked about flood control issues but was only formally consulted once.
The new system aims to prevent a repeat of recent ineffective flood control projects that have drawn public criticism and investigations over alleged corruption. According to Dizon, all proposals will now undergo scientific assessment and simulation before being implemented.
Project NOAH’s involvement will enable DPWH planners to model flood scenarios and assess the effectiveness of both nature-based and engineered interventions. Lagmay said the team will prioritize solutions such as reforestation, rainwater harvesting, sponge roads, and retention basins before considering large-scale structures like dikes or floodwalls.
“If you restore the forest cover or build rainwater retention systems, you can already reduce flood volume significantly. Only after those measures are tested and simulated should we resort to concrete infrastructure,” Lagmay explained.
Probe deforestation
Malacañang on Thursday ordered the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to investigate reports that deforestation and quarrying contributed to the massive flooding in areas devastated by Typhoon Tino.
At a press conference, Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said that President Marcos wants to determine the root causes of the flooding in the affected areas, particularly in Cebu.
Meanwhile, Gabriela party-list Rep. Sarah Elago called yesterday for an urgent and independent investigation into the flooding disaster in Cebu, which has devastated communities and claimed lives — exposing what she described as the deadly consequences of corruption, environmental neglect and unbridled corporate greed. — Christine Boton, Bella Cariaso, Jose Rodel Clapano