Metro Manila, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assured the public that the government will continue rehabilitating damaged infrastructure and implementing long-term flood mitigation projects, with funding already earmarked under the proposed 2027 national budget.
Speaking after inspecting the rehabilitation of the Mananga River in Barangay San Isidro, Talisay City, Cebu, Marcos said the government remains committed to rebuilding infrastructure damaged by typhoons, flooding and other natural disasters.
“So, patuloy lang ang ginagawa natin para hindi na maulit ‘yung napakalaking perwisyo ng pagdaan ng bagyo, ng ilog, at saka nung pagdaan nung baha dito at ang daming nasira,” Marcos said on Monday, June 22.
[Translation: We will continue these efforts so that the massive damage caused by typhoons, overflowing rivers and flooding will not happen again.]
The president said rehabilitation and construction projects will continue in the coming years, including long-term interventions to prevent floodwaters from reaching heavily populated communities.
“Patuloy lang and we will continue to come, we will continue to build, we will continue to repair, and may plano tayo para sa next year para doon na natin haharangin sa taas ‘yung tubig para hindi na natin masyadong problemahin dito sa baba,” he said.
[Translation: We will continue to build and repair, and we have plans for next year to intercept the water upstream so that communities downstream will no longer have to deal with severe flooding.]
The president said funding for the projects has already been included in the 2027 National Expenditure Program (NEP).
He said the government launched the rehabilitation efforts following the severe flooding that hit parts of Cebu in recent typhoons. The projects include the repair and upgrading of flood control structures aimed at reducing the impact of future disasters.
The president added that relocation efforts for residents living in danger zones remain ongoing in coordination with local governments.
“Dati ito talaga eh no-build zone. Kaya ginawan natin ng paraan together with the help of the local governments na pag-relocate ng ating mga kababayan natin na nakatira dito,” he said.
[Translation: This area was originally a no-build zone. We worked with local governments to relocate residents living here because they remain exposed to danger.]
Marcos also highlighted the importance of proposed dam projects in Cebu, noting that three major rivers contribute to flooding whenever large volumes of water flow downstream during heavy rains.
“I think it’s an opportune time also na mabanggit na ‘yung mga dam projects. Tatlo ang malaking ilog dito sa Cebu. At kaya’t pag bumababa ang tubig, doon galing ang baha,” he said.
[Translation: This is also an opportune time to discuss the dam projects. Cebu has three major rivers, and much of the flooding comes from the water flowing down from these river systems.]
