The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) are finalizing the updated flood control master plans for the Pasig-Marikina and Cagayan River Basins aimed at mitigating the recurring and long-standing problem of widespread flooding.

DPWH Senior Undersecretary Emil Sadain said Wednesday that there is an urgency of completing the master plan reports, citing the devastating impact of past typhoons such as Ondoy in 2009, Super Typhoon Lawin in 2016, Ulysses in 2020, and Carina in 2024, which severely affected vulnerable areas and displaced many families in the National Capital Region, Cagayan Valley, and other parts of the country.

“In response to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to revise the flood control master plans and expand infrastructures capacity to address increasing flood risks and climate change threats, the DPWH, under the leadership of Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan, sought the assistance of the JICA Study Team to fast-track the completion of the pre-feasibility study of each river basin. These will then be developed into full-blown comprehensive analyses, to emable the timely implementation of the Detailed Engineering Designs (DED),” he said in a statement.

Sadain said once finalized, the updated master plan reports will be submitted to the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev) for review and approval, with pre-feasibility studies expected to begin in early 2026.

"These studies and proposed measures in a holistic approach are anticipated to support integrated water resources management, improve interagency coordination, and enhance the overall risk and reduction efforts in Luzon”, he added.

Sadain and JICA Senior Representative Takanori Morishima led the presentation and discussion of the draft reports at the Bayleaf Hotel in Manila on Aug. 5.

DPWH PHOTO