Author Topic: Science, not politics, must guide flood control (Read 766 times)

MikeLigalig.com · « **on:** September 04, 2025, 02:19:33 PM »

Cayetano: Science, not politics, must guide flood control[/font][/size][/font]

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Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Thursday called for stronger collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to address the country’s persistent flooding, saying “science and engineering, not politics, must guide flood control.”[/font]
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This came after DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. announced that the agency has the tools and data to support the design of effective, basin-wide flood control projects. [/font]
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These include digital elevation models, geohazard maps, and forecasting systems.[/font]
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Cayetano, who has long pushed for scientific data to serve as the basis of flood control programs, welcomed this initiative. [/font]
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As early as 2023, the senator has been urging the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to listen to DOST’s inputs rather than to politicians. [/font]
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He said the country wouldn’t have to spend hundreds of billions of pesos on flood control structures if the government would only allocate funds for hazard mapping.[/font]
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“If you spend P30-40 billion on hazard mapping that informs where not to build (and) which river to protect, you may not need P250 billion in flood control in the future,” he said during a Senate hearing in 2023.[/font]
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He echoed this stance a year later during a committee hearing on DPWH’s proposed 2025 budget in September 2024.[/font]
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“The pandemic taught us that we really have to be science-based. Pero bakit sa DPWH, in the end, it is the politicians who are followed?” he said.[/font]
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“If the hazard map says ‘dito babaha, dito dapat lagyan ng flood control,’ then that’s where we should build,” he explained.[/font]
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In his press conference, Solidum stressed that infrastructure must be planned in harmony with surrounding structures, roads, and communities because elevated roads and subdivisions worsen flooding – a point Cayetano had raised two years ago during a Senate session. [/font]

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“Damay-damay po y’an. Kung napansin niyo po, ilang beses itinaas ang MacArthur Highway pero hindi naman in-upgrade y’ung iba[ng kalsada], kaya y’ung tubig wala talagang pupuntahan,” Cayetano said during August 1, 2023’s plenary session.[/font]
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The senator reiterated that closer cooperation between government agencies and DOST will help ensure flood control projects are truly effective and resilient.[/font]
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“Science and engineering must lead the way. If DOST can make their tools and findings public, and LGUs use them, we can finally move away from piecemeal and politicized projects toward real solutions that protect our people,” Cayetano said.[/font]

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MikeLigalig.com · « **Reply #1 on:** September 04, 2025, 02:20:32 PM »

Cayetano: Siyensiya, hindi pulitika, ang susi sa epektibong flood control

Nanawagan si Senator Alan Peter Cayetano ng mas matibay na pakikipagtulungan sa Department of Science and Technology (DOST) para maresolba ang paulit-ulit na pagbaha sa bansa.

“Science and engineering, not politics, must guide flood control,” diin ng senador nitong Huwebes.

Ito’y matapos sabihin ni DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. na may sapat na kagamitan at datos ang ahensya para makagawa ng mas epektibong flood control projects tulad ng digital

elevation models, geohazard maps, at forecasting systems.

Matagal nang panawagan ni Cayetano na siyensya at datos ang gawing basehan ng mga proyekto kontra-baha, hindi pulitika.

Noong 2023 pa lang, hinihikayat na niya ang DPWH na makinig sa DOST kaysa sa kagustuhan ng ilang pulitiko.

Ayon kay Cayetano, malaki ang matitipid ng bansa kung hazard mapping ang uunahin.

“If you spend P30-40 billion on hazard mapping that informs where not to build (and) which river to protect, you may not need P250 billion in flood control in the future,” ani Cayetano sa isang pagdinig sa Senado noong 2023.

Inulit niya ito noong 2024 sa pagtalakay sa panukalang budget ng DPWH.

“The pandemic taught us that we really have to be science-based. Pero bakit sa DPWH, in the end, it is the politicians who are followed?” puna niya.

“If the hazard map says ‘dito babaha, dito dapat lagyan ng flood control,’ then that’s where we should build,” giit niya.

Sinabi rin ni Solidum na para maiwasan ang baha, dapat isinasaalang-alang ang mga nakapaligid na istruktura bago magtayo o bumuo ng mga bago dahil nagiging sanhi ng baha ang hindi pantay na lupa – bagay na ipinunto rin ni Cayetano dalawang taon na ang nakalipas.

“Damay-damay po y’an. Kung napansin niyo po, ilang beses itinaas ang MacArthur Highway pero hindi naman in-upgrade y’ung iba[ng kalsada], kaya y’ung tubig wala talagang pupuntahan,” ani Cayetano sa plenaryo ng Senado noong August 1, 2023.

Giit ni Cayetano, kailangang magtulungan ang mga ahensya at DOST para masigurong tunay na epektibo at matibay ang mga proyekto laban sa baha.

“Science and engineering must lead the way. If DOST can make their tools and findings public, and LGUs use them, we can finally move away from piecemeal and politicized projects toward real solutions that protect our people,” wika niya.

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