DPWH Sec. Vince Dizon conducts a press conference on Feb. 28, 2026. Photo courtesy of Liza Agoot/ Philippine News Agency (PNA).
Amid continues heavy rains brought by the intensified southwest monsoon (habagat) in the past days, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is pushing for a Bulk Water project in Central Luzon to address the perennial problem of flooding.
In an interagency meeting, DPWH secretary Vivencio ‘Vince’ Dizon and Pampanga governor Lilia Pineda discussed the said project with other government agencies and the private sector, including Manila Water, the Asian Development Bank.
Dizon explained that the proposed catchment facility will be able to capture accumulated rainwater during heavy downpours that could be supplied for potable and industrial use.
The secretary added, though, that the proposed water project is still in the study stage, with its capacity, cost and construction timetable yet to be finalized.
“It is being evaluated alongside (our) plans for the Central Luzon river basin to ensure that flood management, water supply, irrigation and environmental concerns are addressed as one system,” he noted.
Based on the government’s infrastructural plans for 2027, five dams and detention basins on the Pampanga River are targeted to be completed.
“This will represent a shift toward basin-wide management, replacing isolated drainage projects with a system designed to capture and redirect floodwaters before they overwhelm residential areas downstream,” Dizon explained.
Prior to this, President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. had ordered and reminded government agencies to respond swiftly to the needs of the victims of the severe downpour.
In support, senator Joseph Victor ‘JV’ Ejercito is proposing for a comprehensive infrastructure and national development master plan even as the Senate scrutinizes the DPWH’s proposed ₱643.95 billion budget, which includes about ₱107 billion earmarked for flood control.
Ejercito, chairman of the Senate committee on finance, enthused that he has consistently advocated infrastructure development, transport modernization and a long-term master plan, which he believes would help the Philippines catch up with its Southeast Asian neighbors.
“We need a real blueprint—a master plan that we can actually pass into law, so that whoever becomes president, it will continue,” Ejercito asserted in a radio interview.
“This will not only allow us to catch up and improve our infrastructure, but it will also help prevent corruption, like what happened in the flood control scandal, where projects were simply initiated even though they were not part of any master plan, or were implemented even when they were not necessary, because we know they were being pursued simply as a way to make money,” he continued.
Ejercito also said flood control projects should be based on identified flood-prone areas and major river basins.
He cited the controversy involving former representative Zaldy Co as an example of why flood control projects should be guided by a comprehensive plan and objective criteria.
“If we pass the master plan for infrastructure development, we can avoid this,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, presidential spokesperson Undersecretary Clarissa ‘Claire’ Castro-Seechung announced President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr.’s commitment to “always focus” on the situation of communities submerged in floods amid the persistent habagat rains.
Castro-Seechung was reacting to allegations that the president was’ unmoved’ by the flooding situation as seen on a viral video that showed the chief executive singing and enjoying time with his family.
The video was taken during the recent birthday celebration of First Lady Marie Louise ‘Liza’ Araneta-Marcos. Netizens who saw the footage commented that it was insensitive of the president to celebrate during a week of disaster.
However, the presidential press officer settled the issue by stressing that “the president is always focused on the situation and is monitoring the condition of (the people) and the affected towns.”
“The President is the President, no matter where he is. Allocating a few hours for his family does not mean his duties or the operations of the government come to a halt,” she added to conclude.