Marcos orders DPWH to implement updated Bicol River Basin Master Plan
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. has ordered the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to implement the updated Bicol River Basin Master Plan, according to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).
Marcos made this pronouncement during the Regional Development Council meeting in Pili, Camarines Sur on Friday.
“I already instructed the Public Works to come up with a master plan which is appropriate for now. There is no other way to address the flooding problem except to manage the water flowing into the Bicol Region River Basin,” Marcos said.
Marcos said that the old master plan will no longer be suitable for the country as the weather will become more severe due to climate change.
“At least we have a plan now. We have to implement it properly because the old master plan was not rigorously implemented so we have the same problem,” Marcos pointed out.
Marcos also noted that the plan should be made available to all stakeholders for them to understand how the project works and how government agencies implement it.
During his visit in Camarines Sur after the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine in November 2024, Marcos directed various government agencies to collaborate on developing the Bicol River Basin.
Public Works and Highways Secretary Manual Bonoan told Marcos that the DPWH updated the master plan for the Bicol Region River Basin under the Philippine-Korean project facilitation.
“We have completed the updating of the master plan to include also the basic parameters taking into account climate change,” Bonoan said.
Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr. also asked the DPWH to dredge the low-lying areas of the Bicol River, particularly the Libmanan-Cabusao and Nabua-Bato-Baao Lake.
He emphasized that the dredging could be done before fully implementing the master plan.
