These are part of measures aimed at reducing flooding and protecting communities from the effects of climate change.
NO-BUILD ZONES
During the Palace Press briefing on Tuesday, September 1, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro relayed that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is urging local government units (LGUs) nationwide to strictly enforce “no-build zone” policies and other policies.
“Ayon sa Pangulo, dapat ipatupad ang batas pati ang ‘no-build zone.’ Huwag nang mamulitika — ipatupad ang batas — dapat ipaliwanag sa lahat na kailangang mas maging strikto sa pag-implementa ng batas para sa ating kaligtasan,” she told.
“Sa LGUs, ipatupad ang “no-build zones.” Siguruhing maayos ang nasasakupan — makipagtulungan para mawala ang mga bara sa daluyan ng tubig — siguruhing nakokolekta ang basura at nailalagay sa tamang tambakan,” she stressed.
According to her, this matter will be addressed as part of implementation of policies in relation to climate change.
“Kung hindi ito nabigyang-pansin noon — si Pangulong Marcos Jr. muli ang magpapasimula para higpitan ang pagpapatupad ng mga polisiya na may kinalaman sa climate change,” Castro said, adding that the President Marcos is urged everyone not to be complacent about it.
The Palace official noted that several countries are also experiencing intense monsoon rains, major storms, and severe flooding, including Nepal, China, Laos, Pakistan, India, Kenya, as well as Japan, South Korea and even in the Grand Canyon in the United States.
Castro said the Philippines has several laws and policies intended to address issues such as flooding and climate change, but their effectiveness could be undermined when they are not consistently enforced because of the “palakasan system” or corruption.
The chief executive has emphasized that such practices should no longer be tolerated and that the public must be informed about the effects of climate change and for laws to be enforced fairly and consistently, without favoring any individual or group.
Thus, the public has been urged to practice proper waste disposal, noting that improperly discarded garbage can clog waterways and contribute to flooding.
“Sa bawat barangay — ipaabot natin na ang bawat residente ay may ambag para mabawasan ang malalang epekto ng climate change — mula sa maayos na pagtatapon ng basura, paglilinis ng kapaligiran, pagtatanggal ng bara sa daluyan ng tubig — hindi ito maliit na bagay,” she told.
Castro also emphasized that addressing improper waste collection and disposal should be a shared responsibility, noting that preventing the accumulation of garbage requires cooperation of both local government units and the public.
President Marcos, during his meeting with officials last Monday, August 31, stressed the importance of the public being prepared due to the effects of climate change—viewed as one of the causes of the persistent adverse weather conditions.
Hence, the Department of Education (DepEd) was encouraged to incorporate disaster preparedness and resilience lessons into children’s education at an early age.
“Sa mga estudyante, ang role ng bawat isa ay maging handa sa epekto ng climate change — mas magiging malala ang epekto nito sa mga susunod pang taon — huwag nating paabutin sa ganoong kondisyon,” Castro said, who also added that climate change must be taken seriously and that being prepared is key in order to overcome the danger it poses.
Meanwhile, over to the design of key cities, she said that the pre-war master plans for Metro Manila in 1941 and for Cebu in 1936 were never implemented.
MMDA COMPLETES FEASIBILITY STUDY
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Romando Artes announce on Thursday, September 3, that it has completed a feasibility study.
The said study identified 39 sites for flood-catchment projects as part of the government’s efforts to address flooding in Metro Manila, with the President having directed its fast-tracking during the above-mentioned Monday meeting.
Initially, there were 107 potential sites identified, before the list was narrowed to 39, based on consultations and assessments of the proposed locations.
“Nandito po iyong 39 na sites. Ito po ay may plano na, execution-ready, iba’t ibang klase po ng proyekto ito,” Artes said, adding that these projects will be tailored to the conditions of each site—including catchment or cistern-type facilities that can temporarily store excess rainwater underground.
The projects are part of the government’s adoption of the “sponge city” and nature-based solutions approach, which will complement conventional flood control infrastructure like pumping stations with systems that allow communities to capture, retain, and manage excess rainwater.
The MMDA chief explained thar sponge cities act like “sponges” to soak up, clean, and store rainwater, thereby reducing flood risks and water scarcity. The sponge city concept and other nature-based solutions are already being implemented in countries such as Singapore, China, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.
Under the plan, each local government unit in Metro Manila has at least two identified sites, while others have three, with projects varying according to local conditions.
Artes said the approach is becoming increasingly important as climate change brings more extreme weather conditions and heavier rainfall.
“Sabi nga po ng isang ekspertong kausap namin, with the advent po ng climate change, extreme weather conditions, heavy downpour or iyong malalakas talaga na buhos ng ulan, hindi na dapat i-control iyong tubig, hindi na dapat labanan, kung hindi dapat po ay i-manage,” he said.
