Marikina City Mayor Marjorie Ann Teodoro on Thursday said that flood control should be a national priority, but one guided by the expertise of local governments that deal with flooding firsthand.

“Flooding for us is experiential. We have lived through it,” Teodoro said. “Local governments feel the pressure, and with that comes the accountability to respond.”

The mayor stressed that while resources and policy support from national agencies are necessary, the effectiveness of any flood control strategy depends on the insight, discipline, and coordination of local leaders.

“We believe in common-sense solutions, but always backed by data,” said the lady mayor.

Teodoro cited that through continuous dredging, the Marikina River’s water-carrying capacity has increased from 1,500 to 2,400 cubic meters. The city’s efforts also include slope protection measures and enforcing a 96-meter non-buildable easement from the river’s centerline, which is well beyond national requirements.

She also said these efforts are successful because they are part of an integrated local master plan rather than piecemeal projects. “In Marikina, every project, from dredging, slope protection, to drainage improvement is part of one coordinated system,” she said.