Senator Mark Villar pressed the government on Tuesday, Aug. 19, to adopt a unified flood control master plan, warning that fragmented projects and substandard construction are wasting public funds while leaving millions vulnerable to disasters.

In a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing, Villar cited the heavy losses from recent typhoons and the southwest monsoon, which affected close to three million families, claimed 37 lives, and devastated the livelihoods of nearly 100,000 farmers and fisherfolk. Damage to agriculture was pegged at ₱3.16 billion, while infrastructure losses reached ₱16.51 billion.

“Ang Pilipinas po ay napaka-prone sa baha, nung nakaraang buwan nagkaroon tayo ng bagyo at halos tatlong milyong pamilya ang apektado (The Philippine is flood-prone, and last month alone, there was a storm and almost three million families were affected),” Villar said, stressing that the destruction could have been lessened had there been an effective plan in place.

The senator noted that trillions of pesos have already been funneled into flood control projects carried out by agencies such as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and local government units. Yet, he lamented, these projects remain disjointed and lacking in continuity.

Drawing on his experience as a former DPWH Secretary, Villar emphasized that piecemeal efforts often worsen flooding in other areas. He urged the immediate adoption of existing master plans, including those supported by foreign funding, to ensure a coordinated approach.

Villar also called for accountability, saying erring contractors and officials must be held responsible for failed or defective projects. “Public funds must not be wasted on projects that are poorly executed or disconnected from a larger plan,” he said.