Small Drops, Big Relief — DENR Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla urges households and communities to harvest rainwater, noting that while massive flood-control projects are vital, “every volume helps” in preventing city drains from being overwhelmed during heavy storms.
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ILOILO CITY — Urban flooding remains a persistent challenge in communities across the Philippines. In response, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has called on households to adopt practical measures for flood management at the local level.
DENR Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla emphasized that while massive flood-control projects remain crucial, they often take years to complete and can be easily overwhelmed by increasingly intense storms. “Harvesting rainwater at the household and community level provides an immediate way to reduce pressure on clogged city drains. Every volume helps,” he said.
Capturing rainfall at the household level before it enters public streets can significantly reduce the likelihood of drainage overflow during periods of heavy rain. Rainwater collected from rooftops and stored in barrels, drums, or tanks may be utilized for non-potable purposes such as watering gardens, cleaning outdoor areas, or flushing toilets. This approach not only diverts substantial volumes of water from urban drainage systems but also promotes water conservation for future use.
Establishing a basic rainwater harvesting system requires minimal resources. Residents are advised to maintain clean and unobstructed gutters, direct downspouts into appropriate storage containers, and cover tanks with fine mesh to prevent the entry of debris and the breeding of mosquitoes. Installing a hose at the base of the container facilitates the convenient use of collected water for household needs.
“Rainwater collection is one way to prevent heavy rainwaters from flooding our streets,” said DENR 6 Regional Executive Director Raul Lorilla. “It also allows us to make better use of water in our daily chores. This practice should not only be limited to El Niño periods—it should be a year-round habit.”
Secretary Lotilla and Regional Executive Director Lorilla emphasized that the increasing frequency of extreme weather events underscores the importance of household-level interventions. As urban areas continue to face challenges related to stormwater management, rainwater harvesting presents a practical and cost-effective strategy that enables communities to participate actively in local flood mitigation efforts.
