As Central Luzon provinces remain submerged and floodwaters continue to snarl traffic, especially along the North Luzon Expressway, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. pointed to a decades-old urban plan for Metro Manila that was never fully implemented.

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said the President raised the matter in a meeting with Cabinet officials and an unidentified expert on Monday.

Marcos also attributed the worsening flooding to climate change and urged Filipinos to remain prepared for increasingly extreme weather events.

Castro on Tuesday said the President noted that the 1941 Master Plan for Metro Manila and the 1936 plan for Cebu were not followed, resulting in development in areas that were supposed to be left open to absorb rainwater.

“According to the President, if these master plans were followed, many areas would not have been built on. Flood-prone areas should have remained open and free of infrastructure so they could serve as catchment areas for rainwater,” Castro said in Filipino.

Marcos also called for the strict enforcement of the “no-build zone” provisions in the National Building Code of the Philippines.

“According to the President, the law must be enforced, including the no-build zones. We should stop politicizing this and enforce the law. We must explain to everyone why stricter implementation is necessary for our safety,” Castro said.

She acknowledged that the country has “many good laws” that these are not properly enforced because of political influence and corruption.

“That can no longer continue. We must understand the effects of climate change and enforce the law without choosing sides or giving favors,” she said.

Public responsibility

Castro also called on local governments and residents to do their part in addressing the flooding, particularly by keeping waterways clear and properly disposing of waste.

“For local governments, enforce the no-build zones, make sure your areas are properly managed, clear obstructions from waterways, and ensure that garbage is collected and brought to proper disposal sites. Responsibility starts with us,” she said.

She said the President also warned against complacency, noting that severe flooding and extreme weather were also affecting other countries around the world, including Nepal, China, Laos, Pakistan, India and Kenya.

“Japan and South Korea have also experienced flooding, while the Grand Canyon in the United States has also suffered a flash flood. We should take the threat of climate change seriously. Preparedness is the key to overcoming its dangers,” Castro said.

Old plan, long neglect

In a radio interview Monday, Project NOAH head Mahar Lagmay said the 1941 Metro Manila master plan and the 1939 Cebu plan both included flood management solutions beyond the construction of dikes.

Lagmay, also executive director of the University of the Philippines Resilience Institute, said the government had neglected the plans for nearly a century. The country’s flooding problems could not be solved overnight, he added.

Castro said the Department of Public Works and Highways was working on long-term solutions for the flooding in Metro Manila and Central Luzon.

“What the President really wants is for everything that needs to be fixed to be fixed. Not everything can be completed during his term, but he will start the process,” Castro said.

She said the Palace will coordinate with the Climate Change Commission to identify gaps and other measures needed to address the country’s flooding problems.