Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon is pushing for a mix of engineered and nature-based solutions, backed by international know-how, to better tackle flooding across the country.
Dizon said flood projects must be studied thoroughly—not rushed—even as communities urgently need relief.
“We need to look at how other nations do this,” he explained. He noted many places now balance concrete structures with nature-friendly methods, rather than relying only on hard infrastructure.
The approach will be hybrid: keeping necessary concrete works while adding nature-based measures, matched to what each area actually requires.
Experts from the Netherlands are among those being tapped to guide planning, pick the right solutions, and set realistic timelines.
Some projects can move fast: detention basins are set to start next year. An earth dike plan will be finished in six months, with construction possible by mid-2027.
Plans will differ by location. Metro Manila’s needs will not match those around Northern Manila Bay—including Hagonoy, Obando, Malolos, Macabebe, Masantol, and San Simon—where focus is now sharpest.
“International partners have already learned what works, what’s hard, and what takes time,” Dizon said. “That experience will keep us on the right path.”
