House Minority Leader 4Ps Party-list Rep. Marcelino "Nonoy" Libanan suggested on Friday, Aug. 15 that Congress could grant President Marcos special emergency powers to respond better to the flood problem.

Libanan said that through this congressional action, President Marcos could overcome bureaucratic delays and legal obstacles, and in turn enabling faster procurement, right-of-way acquisition, and relocation of affected families.

The ranking House member said that these special emergency powers could include fast-tracked authority for procuring flood control equipment and materials, the immediate relocation and compensation for displaced families, and the realignment of certain budget items to fund urgent flood mitigation measures.

Incidentally, the House, through the Committee on Appropriations, is about to launch formal discussions on the P6.793-trillion National Expenditure Program (NEP) for 2026 this coming Monday, Aug. 18.

Flood control has been the Marcos administration's focus as of late, even going as far as to identify certain flood control projects and contractors that may have underdelivered.

Libanan also warned that harsh climate change is bound to worsen flooding in the country in the years ahead. He cited scientific studies by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that predict more frequent and intense rainfall events in Southeast Asia.

“We cannot wait for the next big flood disaster before acting. Every year we delay, more lives, homes, and livelihoods are at risk,” he said.

Recent weeks have seen large parts of Metro Manila submerged due to the southwest monsoon and successive typhoons "Crising", "Dante", and "Emong". Across the country, flash floods and swollen rivers have displaced thousands and caused billions of pesos in damage.

“This is not just a Metro Manila problem,” Libanan said. “Severe flooding now affects provinces from Northern Luzon to Mindanao. This is a national crisis that demands a countrywide solution.”

He underscored that a modern flood control master plan must combine structural measures — such as dams, dikes, spillways, pumping stations, and upgraded drainage systems — with non-structural strategies like reforestation, improved urban planning, rainwater harvesting and recycling, and strict enforcement of environmental laws.

“This is the perfect opportunity for the President to lead a bold national initiative. History will judge us not by the speeches we make about climate resilience, but by the lasting solutions we build to protect our people," concluded Libanan.