President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ordered a holistic approach in addressing flood problems in the country, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said Wednesday.

“Utos ni Presidente that we have to address actually ‘yung mga flood control projects natin,” DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan said in an interview.

“That they (projects) should be resilient and implemented holistically kasi alam naman natin na engineering solution is just the one of the components to address ngayon itong mga flood mitigation problems because of the climate change phenomenon,” he added.

According to Bonoan, they are planning to create three dams in the mountains of Sierra Madre to confine flood waters and regulate its flow to protect Metro Manila from flashfloods.

“Dito sa Metro Manila, dapat siguro tingnan kung pwede nating magawan ng mga infrastructure facilities that will impound water in the watershed,” Bonoan said.

Bonoan said they will continue pursuing the Pasig-Marikina Flood Control Program.

Further, Bonoan said they are currently rehabilitating about 37 regional pumping stations in the country, 15 of which have been completed, while the rest “may be completed within the year.”

“These pumping stations have been there long time ago and kailangan natin ma-increase ‘yung carrying capacity nila, ‘yung pumping capacity,” he said.

Aside from these, Bonoan also mentioned the need to address various environmental issues like proper waste management. | PND