Palace: Govt Not Slow on Flood Control, Tackling Decades of Neglect

Malacañang on Wednesday asserted that the government is not slow in addressing flood control, attributing current challenges to decades of institutional neglect and oversight. Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro stated that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is diligently working to fix numerous issues that experts have noted have been neglected for decades, not just one or two, but nearly four. Castro emphasized that government agencies are acting on Marcos' orders, even during break days, to better prepare for the effects of climate change. The Marcos administration is currently focused on updating the flood mitigation plans for 18 major river basins across the country. As of May, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has completed 16 out of the 18 master plans and feasibility studies for these river basins. The Palace official also conveyed President Marcos' understanding of the public's anger regarding corruption, particularly in flood control scams, and his desire for the people to know that the government is active and responsive. In the Philippines, frequent heavy rains from typhoons and monsoons often lead to severe flooding, especially in coastal and low-lying urban areas. Flood control has been a persistent issue under previous administrations, with insufficient progress in large-scale infrastructure development and fundamental plan revisions.