MANILA — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has directed the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to implement an updated master plan for the Bicol River Basin, aiming to address the region’s chronic flooding.
This order came during a meeting with the Regional Development Council (RDC) in Pili, Camarines Sur, on Friday (07 Mar 2025).
Marcos emphasized the need for a comprehensive plan to manage water flow into the Bicol River Basin, pointing out that the previous plan had been poorly implemented, failing to resolve the issue.
The updated master plan, which incorporates climate change considerations, was developed under the Philippine-Korea Project Facilitation Program.
Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan confirmed the plan’s completion, noting that it now includes key parameters reflecting climate change impacts. Marcos further stressed the importance of ensuring all stakeholders, especially implementing agencies, are well-informed about the new plan’s objectives.
Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr. also recommended immediate dredging of the Bicol River’s low-lying areas, such as Libmanan-Cabusao and Nabua-Bato-Baao Lake, to address the shallow riverbed and reduce flooding risk ahead of the full implementation of the new master plan.
Last October, Marcos proposed revisiting the Bicol River Basin Development Program (BRBDP), originally initiated by his father, former president Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr., to prevent future flooding during weather disasters.
ia/mnm
