President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. (left), Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte (MANILA BULLETIN, Facebook)

President Marcos' decision to fast-track the implementation of the Bicol River Basin Development Program (BRBDP), in the aftermath of the heavy flooding caused typhoon "Kristine" is a welcome development.

Thus, said Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. LRay Villafuerte, referring to the defunct project that Marcos earlier thought of reviving to finally rid the region of the chronic overflow of the Bicol River.

Villafuerte, who had proposed the revival of the defunct BRBDP way back in the previous two Congresses, said that Marcos announced this project’s restart in 2025 during his visit to Camarines Sur last Nov. 6.

“On behalf of my fellow Bicolanos, I welcome the President’s decision to fast-track the revival of the BRBDP, beginning next year, as one of his administration’s long-term solutions to address the perennial overflow of the Bicol River, which is responsible for the floods that usually plague most of our province even during typhoons that strike with only minimal rainfall,” Villafuerte said.

“I also thank the President for making good on his assurance of continuing government support for typhoon-affected families and communities in going to our province for the second time in a week to personally check on, and extend succor to, my provincemates still staggering from the catastrophic impact  of the worst flooding ever to hit CamSur,” he said. 

The National Unity Party (NUP) president at the same thanked Mr. Marcos  for delivering on his commitment of continuing government support for families and communities reeling from the worse-than-expected devastation wrought by Kristine, as the President went to the province last Wednesday for his second visit in a week, this time to lead the handout of cash aid and other forms of assistance to typh00n-hit Bicolanos.

Right after Kristine, the President visited the province on Oct. 26 to provide assistance to typhoon victims temporarily sheltered at evacuation centers in the municipality of Bula.   

With the restart of the BRBDP in 2025, Villafuerte says there is more reason now for the Congress to include in the 2025 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) of an initial P20 billion for a multi-year Bicol Rehabilitation and Recovery Fund (BRRF) to help Bicol recover quickly from the worse-than-expected devastation unleashed by Kristine.

But because the House of Representatives already passed its 2025 GAB worth P6.352 trillion last Sept. 25, Villafuerte hoped that the Senate could include this P20-billion outlay for the BRRF in its version of next year’s budget bill.

Villafuerte said the House under the leadership of Speaker Martin Romualdez can concur with this funs proposal during the bicameral committee process that will happen later for both chambers to draw up a consolidated 2025 GAB.

The enactment of the GAB is being eyed before the end of the year.