Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 16) — The head of the House appropriations committee on Friday urged the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to make sure infrastructure projects are climate and disaster resilient as the country deals with more powerful storms and severe flooding.
“Our public works must be climate and disaster resilient to adapt to the rapid changes of our planet,” committee chairman Zaldy Co said during budget deliberations for the DPWH.
“Faster computing power and innovations in materials science now allow for infrastructure design and construction to finish faster — in weeks or even days. Our DPWH must use these new technologies to allow our citizens to enjoy our roads, bridges, school buildings, and other similar projects earlier,” the Ako Bicol Party-list Representative added.
Co said public works must also be able to respond to the country’s growing population, increasing demand for efficient delivery of public services and transportation.
DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan said the agency has revised some of its technical standards to address the effects of climate change.
“For flood control, we now have a 50-year return period design requirements, instead of before about 25 year return period. For buildings, we are now adopting a new national building code standard for purposes of earthquake design requirements. For school buildings, we are requiring a resilient design,” he explained.
Under a special provision, the DPWH is encouraged to adopt standards for global warming and climate change in the feasibility study and detail engineering design of all infrastructure projects, in coordination with the Climate Change Commission.
During the hearing, several lawmakers also brought up the need to update the drainage in areas amid massive flooding. The DPWH chief said his department is already looking into the matter.
“We have identified 18 major river basins all over the country. We have completed some of the masterplans…Some of them are being implemented through development assistance and local funds,” Bonoan said.
The agency earmarked ₱168.90 billion for flood control programs in its ₱718.3-billion budget for 2023.
