To counter the flood crisis, a local official said the government needs unity across all levels of government and zero politicking in implementing local infrastructure projects as it intensifies efforts to address widespread flooding after habagat-induced heavy rains inundated major parts of Luzon.

Following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s marching orders to implement flood control projects, Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said a whole-of-government approach is necessary to effectively address the country’s persistent flooding problem.

“We need to stand united. From the local level to the national level, we must stand together,” he said.

Remulla, who attended the turnover of the Imus Retarding Basin in Imus City, Cavite, stressed that corruption-free implementation and good politics can deliver government projects that genuinely benefit and protect communities.

“You won’t find any nonsense here. This is the result of doing politics the right way,” he said.

Remulla said the more than P2-billion project was implemented through a clean transaction between the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the government, resulting in flood control infrastructure designed to deliver concrete protection to communities.

He cited the well-studied partnership between the Department of Public Works and Highways and JICA, expressing optimism that the project can serve as a model for flood mitigation infrastructure in other parts of the country and help address recurring chest-deep flooding in Imus.