Senator Imee R. Marcos has called for a “comprehensive and long-term” national flood control strategy, warning that billions in public funds could go to waste if no clear and intelligent plan is implemented.

In a statement released on Wednesday, Marcos questioned the effectiveness of current flood control efforts, despite the ₱364.4 billion allocated in the 2025 national budget for flood mitigation projects.

“Anong klaseng flood control ‘to—bilyones ang pondo, pero palubog pa rin ang bayan? (What kind of flood control is this—billions in funding, yet the nation continues to sink?)” Marcos said.

“Ang kailangan natin ay isang komprehensibong national flood control plan—hindi pansamantalang solusyon, kundi pangmatagalang hakbang (What we need is a comprehensive national flood control plan—not temporary fixes, but long-term solutions),” she added.

Marcos proposed several concrete measures, including the dredging of Laguna de Bay and the long-delayed construction of the Parañaque Spillway. She also suggested declaring the project a flagship under the National Expenditure Program (NEP) to fast-track implementation.

She then urged the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to move forward with existing plans, even with private sector participation.

“Kung may plano na ang DPWH, simulan na ang implementasyon—kahit pa private sector ang tumulong. Puwede namang i-Swiss challenge ang mga proposal (The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) already has a plan, then implementation should begin—even if the private sector helps. Proposals can go through a Swiss challenge process),” she said, citing successful private initiatives such as San Miguel Corporation’s flood mitigation projects along the Pasig and Tullahan rivers, which were funded without government subsidy.

The senator pointed out that DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan had been part of major flood management plans in the past, including the Metro Manila Transport, Land Use and Development Planning Project (MMETROPLAN) in 1976 and the post-Ondoy plan in 2009.

However, she noted that many of the 60 recommendations from those initiatives have yet to be realized.

Marcos also lamented how the Philippines continues to lag behind other countries in flood control innovations, citing examples such as Malaysia’s SMART tunnel and China’s sponge city initiative.

“Hanggang ngayon, wala pa ring long-term implementation. Habang ang ibang bansa ay may SMART tunnel, sponge cities, o bagong capital, tayo ay naiipit pa rin sa matagal na deliberasyon (Until now, there is still no long-term implementation. While other countries have SMART tunnels, sponge cities, or are even building new capitals, we remain stuck in endless deliberations),” she said.

The senator emphasized that preventive planning could save up to 90% of costs by avoiding disasters before they strike.

“May naka-allocate na ₱364.4B para sa flood control sa 2025 GAA—pero kung walang malinaw at matalinong plano, masasayang lang ulit ang pondo (There’s a ₱364.4 billion allocated for flood control in the 2025 General Appropriations Act—but without a clear and intelligent plan, the funds will just go to waste once again),” she noted.

“It’s not just money being wasted—lives, livelihoods, infrastructure, and agriculture are at stake. We need to act early, and we need to act now,” she added.