Ramping up efforts on flood mitigation through a whole-of-government approach, Office of Civil Defense officials on Friday met with the technical experts and officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to tackle flood control projects for the major river basins in the country.
During the meeting, Civil Defense Administrator, Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno, highlighted the importance of ensuring harmonized government agencies’ interventions, not just for river basin management but also in other disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) programs and projects.
Concerned agencies and stakeholders should work on eradicating any disconnect and that integration of all interventions is crucial for better planning, implementation, and monitoring, Usec. Nepomuceno added.
Meanwhile, DPWH discussed its process relating to the flood management program for river basins. This includes the development of a master plan that outlines the roadmap and framework; the conduct of a feasibility study; and the development of a detailed engineering design for the construction of flood risk management projects along river basins. The department also presented updates on the status of river basin flood control projects.
The DENR, on the other hand, tackled the integrated river basin management and development master plans (IRBMDMP); the established river basin organizations; as well as the implemented projects and programs under the IRBMDMP.
Under Executive Order No. 510 series of 2006, a river basin control office (RBCO) was created under the DENR wherein the said office together with the DPWH shall rationalize various existing river basin projects.
In collaboration with DPWH and the National Disaster Coordinating Council, now NDRRMC, RBCO is also tasked to formulate a “national master plan for flood control by integrating the various existing river basin projects and developing additional plan components as needed.”
Usec. Nepomuceno reiterated the OCD’s strong support for the strengthening of river basin management and other measures to mitigate flood risk, especially in highly susceptible areas in the country.
