Amid widespread flooding triggered by Typhoon Crising and the southwest monsoon, Senator Francis Pangilinan is pushing for three key bills aimed at improving the country’s flood control and disaster resilience systems.
He emphasized the need for a national, science-based approach, citing his proposed Rainwater Runoff Management and Control Act, National Land Use Act of 2025, and National Water Resources Management Act.
“In the Philippines, flooding is not seasonal. We suffer through it every year and every year, we mourn our kababayans who lost their loved ones and their livelihoods,” said Pangilinan. “It has become a cycle; a repetitive and persistent threat to our lives, businesses, and national development. We need to act now and that means investing in long-term and sustainable solutions.”
The National Water Resources Management Act proposes the creation of a Department of Water Resources to oversee integrated and climate-resilient water resource planning, including flood control, urban drainage, irrigation, and drought risk management.
The Rainwater Runoff Management and Control Act aims to reduce runoff, protect water quality, and promote the use of rainwater for irrigation, firefighting, and non-potable uses like flushing toilets and watering plants.
Meanwhile, the National Land Use Act of 2025 calls for a national geohazard mapping program to identify areas at risk of floods, landslides, sinkholes, and other natural disasters, and promotes sustainable land and resource use.
Pangilinan also highlighted the need for transparency and accountability in flood mitigation spending, including penalties for non-implementation.
“We owe it to our children and to future generations not to pass down the problems we can address right here, right now. They deserve more than apologies and relief packs. This is a reality that we live through every day, and it is our mandate to take the necessary steps to protect our people,” he said.IMT
