DPWH Urged to Release Funds for Flood Mitigation
Camarines Sur 2nd district Representative LRay Villafuerte has called on the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to begin allocating funds for flood mitigation efforts under the updated Bicol River Basin Master Plan. This request follows the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) announcement of an early start to the rainy season.
Villafuerte, who is also the province’s governor-elect, reminded DPWH officials that President Marcos had directed the agency earlier this year to implement the Bicol River Basin Master Plan. This initiative aims to address the persistent flooding problems affecting Camarines Sur and neighboring provinces in the region.
Presidential Directive and Local Appeals
The President issued this directive during a Regional Development Council meeting held last March in Pili, the provincial capital. Villafuerte emphasized the urgency now that the election-related public works ban has ended and the rainy season is imminent. “With the public works ban during the election period over and the rainy season in the offing, we are appealing to the DPWH to start releasing public funds for flood mitigation projects that are part of the updated BRB Master Plan that the President himself had [green-lit] during one of his recent official trips to our province,” he said.
DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan recently urged district engineers and local public works officials to accelerate projects under the government’s “Build Better More” infrastructure campaign. Bonoan stressed, “This is not the time to slow down—this is the time to double down on our mission. We are at a pivotal moment—not just for DPWH, but for the entire government and the Filipino people.”
Significance of the Flood Mitigation Projects
The rainy season in the Philippines typically spans from June to November, with the country encountering an average of 20 tropical cyclones annually. Villafuerte expressed hope that the DPWH will act swiftly to implement this revitalized plan to finally address the region’s long-standing flooding issues. As president of the National Unity Party, he highlighted the historical roots of the Bicol River Basin Development Plan, which was first launched by former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. in the 1970s.
Previously, Villafuerte had sought to revive the Bicol River Basin Development Plan during past congressional sessions. However, the plan failed to advance until it gained the support of the current President. The 19th Congress is set to adjourn on June 11, adding urgency to the push for funding release.
For more news and updates on flood mitigation projects, visit Filipinokami.com.