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Flood prevention has an environmental component that can't be ignored. 

Just days removed from the massive flooding in Metro Manila and different parts of Luzon caused by Typhoon "Carina" and the southwest monsoon (Habagat), Rizal 4th district Rep. Fidel Nograles appealed to the Marcos administration to prioritize the aggressive rehabilitation of the country's watersheds. 

"Nature is our first line of defense against typhoons. Pero kung patuloy na makakalbo ang mga gubat natin lalo na ang mga watershed, mauulit lamang tuwing bubuhos ang malakas na ulan at bagyo na sasaluhin ng mga nakapalibot na komunidad ang pagbaha," Nograles said in a statement Saturday, July 27. 

(If our forests and especially our watersheds continue to recede, then the surrounding communities will continue to suffer from flooding whenever there's a heavy downpour.) 

"Even as we are in the midst of assessing the damage wrought by Typhoon Carina, we should start thinking ahead. We should be seriously alarmed and do something about it," he added. 

The Luzon lawmaker renewed his call for the establishment of the Sierra Madre Development Authority, which would be tasked with the conservation and management of the 500-kilometer long mountain range. 

The House Committee on Government Enterprises and Privatization is currently deliberating the proposal, which was filed by Nograles. 

The solon said that the country cannot continue turning a blind eye to what is happening in the mountains. "We need our mountains and watersheds to shield us and prevent us being exposed to nature's wrath." 

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that more than 1.3 million people or close to 300,000 families were affected by the onslaught of typhoons Carina, Butchoy, and the habagat this year alone. 

The reported damage to agriculture  reached P9,706,852, while irrigation facilities damage reached P6,560,000. For infrastructure, the reported damage was P1,298,974. 

A state of calamity was also declared in various areas, including the whole National Capital Region (Metro Manila); Cavite; Pinamalayan and Baco in Oriental Mindoro; San Andres in Romblon; Jose Abad Santos in Davao Occidental; Kabacan and Pikit in Cotabato, among others.