Cayetano tells DENR: You have a key role in preventing floods
Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Monday emphasized the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) key role in preventing floods through stricter enforcement of environmental laws and greater involvement in infrastructure planning.
“Malaki din y’ung role ng DENR in preventing a flood control scandal and preventing future floods,” Cayetano said during the budget briefing for the DENR’s proposed 2027 budget on October 19, 2026.
He urged the agency to work closely with the DPWH to ensure that flood control projects account for environmental risks and do not worsen flooding, saying flood control projects should consider not only engineering and architectural requirements but also their effects on bodies of water.
“Ang nakita nating problema sa flood control, dalawa: actual design [at] engineering intervention. Baka expertise ng Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) y’ung engineering, but the environmental design, y’un ang role ninyo. We want the input of DENR kung ano ang pwedeng gawin,” the senator told DENR.
Cayetano also called for a review of the National Building Code of the Philippines, saying some flooding problems arise when structures are built in areas unsuitable for development.
He added that the government should strengthen preventive measures and impose penalties severe enough to discourage developers from pursuing projects that violate environmental rules, rather than addressing the damage after construction.
“[People are] building in places where you’re not supposed to build, kasi maliit y’ung penalties. Baka dapat baliktarin natin y’ung process. Maybe the penalties and y’ung ngipin ng environmental laws have to be so sharp that you won’t even start,” he said.
To encourage responsible building practices among local government units (LGUs), Cayetano also proposed revising the formula for allocating funds to LGUs to give greater financial incentives to those that protect the environment.
“Dati ‘pag y’ung city nagkaroon ng commercial [or] industrial [projects], meron na siyang mataas na IRA [Internal Revenue Allotment,] meron na siyang real property tax [at] may business tax pa. Baka that formula could change and the department could propose na dapat may incentive kung green ka,” Cayetano said.
He stressed that environmental enforcement should hold developers and organized groups accountable for violations while ensuring that vulnerable communities, including informal settlers, receive appropriate assistance.
Filipino Version
Cayetano tells DENR: You have a key role in preventing floods
Binigyang diin ni Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano nitong Lunes ang mahalagang papel ng Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) sa pagpigil sa pagbaha sa pamamagitan ng mahigpit na pagpapatupad ng mga batas pangkalikasan at aktibong pakikilahok sa pagpaplano ng mga proyektong pang-imprastraktura.
Sa budget briefing ng Senado para sa proposed 2027 budget ng DENR nitong October 19, sinabi ni Cayetano na hindi lang dapat nakabatay sa engineering requirements ang mga flood control project kundi dapat ding isaalang-alang ang magiging epekto ng mga ito sa mga ilog, lawa, at iba pang daluyan ng tubig.
Hinimok niya ang DENR na makipagtulungan sa DPWH sa pagpaplano ng mga istruktura kontra baha para masigurong wala itong idudulot na panganib sa kalikasan at hindi makalala sa pagbaha.
“Ang nakita nating problema sa flood control, dalawa: actual design [at] engineering intervention. Baka expertise ng DPWH y’ung engineering, but the environmental design, y’un ang role ninyo. We want the input of DENR kung ano ang pwedeng gawin,” wika ng senador.
Hinimok din ng senador ang DENR na tumulong sa pagrepaso National Building Code of the Philippines. Aniya, nakadaragdag kasi sa problema ng pagbaha ang pagtatayo ng mga istruktura sa mga lugar na hindi dapat tinatayuan.
“[People are] building in places where you’re not supposed to build, kasi maliit y’ung penalties. Baka dapat baliktarin natin y’ung process? Maybe the penalties and y’ung ngipin ng environmental loss has to be so sharp that you won’t even start,” giit niya.
Ayon pa kay Cayetano, imbes na solusyunan ang mga problema kapag may nakatayo nang istruktura, kailangang palakasin ang pagpapatupad ng mga batas na pumipigil sa pagsira ng kalikasan at mga kaukulang parusa para wala nang developer ang magtangkang lumabag rito.
Iminungkahi rin niya na baguhin ang formula sa paglalaan ng pondo sa mga lokal na pamahalaan upang mabigyan ng insentibo ang mga lungsod at munisipalidad na nangangalaga sa kalikasan.
“Dati ‘pag y’ung city nagkaroon ng commercial [or] industrial [projects], meron na siyang mataas na IRA [Internal Revenue Allotment,] meron na siyang real property tax [at] may business tax pa. Baka that formula could change and the department could propose na dapat may incentive kung green ka,” pahayag ni Cayetano.
Giit niya, dapat masigurong mapapanagot ang mga developer at organisadong grupong lumalabag sa mga batas pangkalikasan, habang tinitiyak ng pamahalaan na nabibigyan naman ng angkop na tulong ang mga mahihinang sektor, kabilang ang mga informal settler.
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