Environmental planners buck fund misuse for flood control
A GROUP of environmental planners has slammed the misuse of public funds intended for flood control projects, saying the government must invest in nature-based solutions instead of “piecemeal” fixtures to solve the country’s flood problem.
In a statement on Monday, the Philippine Institute of Environmental Planners (PIEP) said flood management and control are not mere engineering problems, but are environmental, social, and governance issues.
“Engineering solutions like levees, dikes, and floodways are important, but they can only take us so far,” PIEP National President Jayson Edward San Juan said. “Relying only on concrete structures is costly to maintain, can fail during extreme weather, and too often opens the door to waste or misuse of public funds.”
“Instead of prioritizing grayfield development and purely structural fixes that have created opportunities for misuse of public funds, PIEP advocates for nature-based solutions as less expensive and more sustainable flood management strategies,” it said.
The group called on the need for nature-based solutions like restoring wetlands and mangroves, protecting watersheds, and creating urban green spaces.
It also cited the need for smart engineering and ecosystem restoration, land-use planning, and community involvement.
Meanwhile, construction must be supported by non-structural measures like hazard mapping, early warning systems, and stricter zoning.
The group also called on the government to exercise transparency and accountability to ensure that public funds achieve lasting results.
“We owe Filipinos flood solutions that last, not quick fixes that fail the moment the next storm arrives.”
Corruption linked to flood control projects have cost the Philippines up to P118.5 billion in economic losses since 2023, Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto said earlier. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz
