Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco fully supports the call to establish a comprehensive national plan on flood control to prevent and mitigate flooding in the Philippines.

“The recent flooding in Metro Manila showed us that there is a need to prepare and be more proactive in our flood programs,” said Tiangco.

Instead of being reactive to the effects of climate change, the solon said the government should put in place a large-scale and long-term plan against floods.

He made the comment after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. raised the need to update flood hazard maps.

“Like the President noted, we were caught by surprise. Some areas that were not known to flood were submerged during the recent typhoon,” said Tiangco.

“Addressing the challenges of new weather patterns should be our top priority.

“We will only be able to do this if we take an integrated, inter-agency approach that will undertake a comprehensive review and analysis of current flood risks, as well as a multi-disciplinary approach to proposed mechanisms for flood control,” he also said.

The problem of flooding, according to him, has many dimensions, such as climate change, urbanization, lack of infrastructure, and human behavior. 

“The solutions must be as nuanced as the problem itself. All relevant agencies of government must come together – from national to local – if we hope to protect Filipinos from floods and other hazards. Proper funding must be allocated, and newer technologies explored. The times are changing and it is the responsibility of government to keep up and make sure that the people are safe,” said Tiangco.