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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PBBM eyes revival of Bicol River Basin Dev't Program under Marcos Sr

PBBM eyes revival of Bicol River Basin Dev't Program under Marcos Sr

Published Oct 27, 2024 02:08 am

Plans may soon be underway to revive former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr.'s Bicol River Basin Development Program (BRBDP) to help mitigate flooding in the Bicol region after President Marcos inspected Typhoon Kristine-hit areas there on Saturday, Oct. 26.

PBBM_Naga2.jpgPresident Ferdinand 'Bongbong Marcos Jr. (2nd right) hands over a check worth P30 million as financial assistance to Typhoon Kristine victims to Naga City Mayor Nelson Legacion. On his left are Special Assistant to the President Anton Lagdameo and Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla. (Malacañang photo)

The President instructed local executives and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) during a situation briefing held in Naga City.

He compared how the flood subsided quickly in Batangas and Cavite provinces as compared to the Bicol region, where some areas are still submerged days after the typhoon.

“Itong mga lugar, mga [lugar sa] Batangas, mga [lugar sa] Cavite, nawala kaagad ang tubig. Dito, hindi nawawala ang tubig (Water in areas in Batangas and Cavite immediately subsided). But that’s the proverbial problem of the Bicol River Basin,” the Chief Executive said.

“Kaya’t kailangan talaga nating pag-isipan (We need to think) what are we going to do with the long-term because you cannot expect any changes,” he added.

The BRBDP was a project of the President’s father, former president Marcos Sr., in 1973.

Funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) with support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the European Economic Community, the program was discontinued in 1986 after the end of martial law.

“Yun lamang, hindi natapos (Unfortunately, it wasn’t finished). In 1986, when the government changed, nawala na ‘yung project. Basta’t natigil (It was suddenly stopped),” Marcos said.

“So, we have to revisit it now. Iba na ang conditions ngayon (The conditions are different now) with the advent of climate change," he added.

Stressing that the program was “very advantageous” to the community, the Chief Executive explained that it will also support farm-to-market roads, which are essential for agriculture.

However, he expressed worry about the effects of climate change because it will worsen typhoons and flooding.

“Now, we have to focus specifically on flood control. The others, marami naman tayong mga plano (we have a lot of plans) for the rest of it. But we have to focus now on flood control,” he explained.

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan said that a detailed engineering design of the BRBDP will be completed by early 2025.

Marcos was accompanied by Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Anton Lagdameo, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Department of Defense (DOD) Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr., and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla during his visit at the evacuation centers in Naga.

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), over 4.2 million people in Bicol were affected by the tropical storm.

A total of 19 local government units declared a state of calamity in their localities.

Latest figures also showed that 81 died, 34 went missing, and 66 got injured.

Related Tags

bicol river basin DPWH President Marcos KristinePH
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