Structures obstructing natural waterways are contributing to the recurring and severe flooding across the country.

Senator Erwin Tulfo emphasized this on Monday as he called on relevant government agencies to conduct a full investigation and submit a comprehensive report on unauthorized structures that are blocking rivers, canals and other drainage systems nationwide.

Tulfo made the appeal following his recent visit to Puerto Princesa City in Palawan, which suffered from massive flooding due to recent typhoons and the southwest monsoon. 

The calamity displaced more than 6,000 residents across several towns.

“I have received reports and personally witnessed — how waterways such as rivers, creeks and canals have been diverted, piped over, or outright buried beneath roads and commercial properties. The consequences are already visible: urban flooding and severe siltation of surrounding coastal and marine ecosystems,” Tulfo said in a privilege speech. 

Affront to ecology

He added, “This is not only a blatant violation of the environmental laws, it is also an affront to environmental integrity and a ticking time bomb for the safety and welfare of communities downstream.” 

Tulfo is pushing for a broader investigation into the causes of massive flooding not only in Palawan but also in other affected areas across the Philippines. 

The goal, he said, is to strengthen existing environmental laws and improve enforcement mechanisms.

“Despite the existing legal prohibitions, violations continue, and illegal structures remain permitted in these waterways,” Tulfo pointed out.

“No one — not even powerful individuals or businesses — can place private interest above public safety, ecological balance, and the rule of law,” he added. 

Tulfo also called on the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development, the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to conduct a thorough investigation and provide a full report on the unauthorized structures obstructing natural drainage systems in Palawan and other regions.

“If we allow this to continue, we are not only setting a dangerous precedent, but we are also failing in our constitutional duty to protect the environment and defend public interest over private gain,” Tulfo concluded.