MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines’ long-running battle with flooding is facing another major hurdle: many of the country’s flood-mitigation master plans remain unfinished or outdated, Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon told lawmakers on Wednesday.
Dizon made the disclosure during the House Committee on Appropriations’ briefing on the Department of Public Works and Highways’ proposed 2027 budget, saying the government cannot simply continue relying on old flood-control studies while climate change is altering rainfall patterns and flooding risks.
“Hindi pa po kompleto ang ating master plans nationwide,” Dizon said, noting that several river-basin master plans across the country are either still being developed or have become outdated.
He stressed that updating these plans is critical because they directly influence the engineering design, location and capacity of flood-control infrastructure.
Why old flood-control plans may no longer be enough
Dizon said climate change has made it increasingly important for the government to reassess previous flood-control studies before using them as the basis for new infrastructure.
The concern comes as extreme rainfall has repeatedly overwhelmed drainage systems and flood-control structures in parts of Metro Manila and other areas.
Recent flooding has also intensified scrutiny of how billions of pesos in public funds have been spent on flood-management projects.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson recently questioned nearly ₱1.939 trillion in DPWH flood-control spending from 2011 to 2025, arguing that the continuing flooding raises questions about whether government projects are being implemented under a coherent, long-term program. He also warned that the proposed 2027 national budget contains about ₱107.4 billion for flood control, making the existence of a clear master plan crucial.
Metro Manila still has no single comprehensive master plan
Dizon also revealed that Metro Manila does not yet have one comprehensive flood-mitigation master plan covering the entire region.
Some cities already have their own plans, including Quezon City, Pasig, Marikina and Manila, but these do not yet constitute one fully integrated regional system, according to Dizon’s briefing.
This matters because floodwater does not stop at city boundaries.
A drainage system in one locality can affect downstream communities, particularly when waterways and river systems cross several cities.
The government has therefore been pushing for greater coordination among national agencies, regional development councils, provincial and local governments.
Dizon said DPWH projects should be coordinated with local authorities, including through development councils or, at minimum, a certificate of no objection from the concerned local government units.
DPWH shifts toward localized flood solutions
The disclosure comes as DPWH has begun pursuing more localized solutions while broader master plans are being developed.
Earlier this month, Dizon said the department was looking at detention or retention basins in Metro Manila, including a proposed facility in Quezon City that could temporarily hold floodwater before releasing it into the San Juan River once water levels subside.
DPWH is also preparing to construct an underground water detention basin at Plaza Rajah Sulayman in Manila, with a proposed capacity of roughly 3 million liters. Construction was expected to begin in September, subject to weather conditions.
The approach is part of a broader effort to prevent large volumes of rainwater from entering already overwhelmed waterways all at once.
Dizon has also ordered the redesign of drainage inlets along major Metro Manila roads, including Roxas Boulevard, EDSA, C-5, Taft Avenue, España Boulevard, Quezon Avenue and Commonwealth Avenue, particularly in flood-prone areas where existing inlets may be too small to move water efficiently.
Government considers a more coordinated flood strategy
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has also directed DPWH and other government agencies to adopt a more “holistic approach” to flooding and improve coordination with local governments.
The Palace said the directive responds to longstanding concerns that flood-mitigation projects were not always sufficiently coordinated with the communities and local governments where they were being implemented.
Meanwhile, the government has been studying additional rain-catchment and detention facilities in Metro Manila.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority recently identified 30 potential sites for large rain-catchment structures, including underground facilities that could temporarily store rainwater during extreme downpours. A preliminary study had been completed, with detailed engineering plans expected afterward.
The bigger question: Where is the country’s long-term flood strategy?
The latest disclosure puts renewed attention on a fundamental question: How should the Philippines spend billions of pesos on flood control if the master plans guiding those projects are incomplete, outdated or fragmented?
Dizon has previously emphasized that flood-control projects should have proper plans and technical review before they move forward.
The Philippine Star also reported that DPWH was moving toward a requirement that proposed projects have a comprehensive master plan, engineered design, feasibility studies and appropriate endorsements from local and regional development councils before entering the budget process.
Sen. Lacson, meanwhile, has argued that flood-control planning should extend beyond individual administrations so that major projects are not repeatedly abandoned or replaced whenever national leadership changes.
For millions of Filipinos living in flood-prone communities, the issue is no longer simply about building more concrete structures.
The bigger challenge is making sure that drainage networks, rivers, pumping stations, detention basins and other flood-control projects work together as one system—and that the system is designed for the rainfall and climate conditions the country is actually experiencing today.
As Dizon acknowledged before lawmakers, the plans that will determine how the country tackles flooding in the coming years are still not fully complete.
And with another rainy season already exposing weaknesses in the country’s flood defenses, the pressure is now on the government to finish the plans—and make sure the projects that follow them actually work.
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