Senators pressed on Wednesday for an accelerated reforestation of the country’s denuded mountains and sparse forests as the country’s populated areas are subjected to annual flooding that destroys property, claims lives, and affects the livelihood of Filipinos.
Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri stressed the adoption of a holistic approach to the flooding problem that includes the relocation of informal settlers, the cooperation of local government units (LGUs), and engineering projects such as dredging, construction of river walls, and adoption of an agro-forestry program.
The cooperation of local government units (LGUs) is a requirement, he added.
Six dams, including four multi-purpose dams, are planned for the wide Cagayan river, the longest river in Luzon.
Zubiri also said that the cooperation of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is needed.
In the agro-forestry program, Zubiri said the preferences are cacao, coffee, durian, and mango trees that will serve as sponge for rainwaters. These, however, are not the choices of tree cutters or illegal loggers.
Senator Emmanuel D. Pacquiao, chairman of the Senate Public Works Committee that is conducting the public hearing, said programs such as the 8.8–kilometer Paranaque spillway project should have been implemented for Metro Manila as early 2016.
Opposition Senator Francis ‘’Kiko’’ N. Pangilinan noted that the Pacquiao committee started its public hearing past 10 a.m. today although its scheduled start was at 9 a.m. This did not sit well with those invited to the public hearing, Pangilinan said.
Pacquiao explained that the one-hour gap was for the COVID-19 swabbing of the guests of the committee.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) presented a long-term engineering plan for the Cagayan and Marikina river basins.
Senator Ramon ‘’Bong’’ Revilla Jr., vice chairman of the committee, said there is an immediate need to rehabilitate the country’s bald forests and proper infrastructures to manage floodwaters.
He cited the Netherlands that built big gates and sophisticated delta works to stop storm surges. A quarter of the Netherlands is below sea level, he pointed out.
Revilla also cited Japan for its underground flood tanks that could fill up the Statue of Liberty in the United States.