Legislator Supports Government's National Flood Control Plan

Navotas Representative Toby Tiangco has expressed his resolute support for the establishment of a comprehensive national plan for flood control. This call to action is aimed at preventing and mitigating the devastating effects of flooding in the Philippines, which have been witnessed recently in Metro Manila. 
 
"The recent flooding events demonstrate a clear need to prepare and be more proactive with our flood programs," stated Tiangco. He further emphasized that instead of being reactive to climate change's impacts, there should be an implementation of large-scale and long-term plans against floods. 
 
Tiangco’s statement came after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. highlighted the pressing necessity to update flood hazard maps around the country. As noted by both leaders, many areas were caught off guard during recent typhoons as regions not known for flooding found themselves submerged under water. 
 
"Addressing the challenges posed by new weather patterns must become our top priority," urged Tiangco, recognizing that adequate preparation can only occur if there is an integrated approach across all agencies. This approach would involve undertaking a thorough review and analysis of current flood risks while also adopting a multi-disciplinary method towards proposed mechanisms for effective flood control. 
 
The lawmaker astutely pointed out that this issue isn't one-dimensional; it encompasses various factors such as climate change, urbanization, lack of infrastructure development, and human behavior patterns contributing significantly to its complexity. 
 
"The solutions must be nuanced enough to address every aspect involved in causing this problem,” he said. “All relevant government bodies from national down to local levels need to unite if we hope ever successfully protect Filipinos from floods or other similar hazards." 
 
In addition, Tiangco stressed allocating proper funding towards these initiatives while exploring newer technologies capable of assisting with better planning strategies against potential future disasters like these devastating floods experienced recently. 
 
Floods are among nature's most common yet deadliest phenomena worldwide; they cause immense loss both financially and economically, besides affecting millions directly or indirectly every year. For a country like the Philippines, which is geographically located in an area prone to heavy rainfall and tropical storms, effective flood control measures are not just desirable but essential. 
 
Tiangco's call for a comprehensive national plan for flood control is therefore timely and necessary. With proper funding, interagency cooperation, updated hazard maps, and proactive planning strategies that encompass all dimensions of this complex problem, there can be progress towards mitigating the devastating effects of floods. 
 
Ultimately, this will require political willpower at all levels of government as well as concerted efforts from citizens themselves, who must also play their part by adopting responsible behaviors concerning waste management or land use practices that could exacerbate flooding problems. 
 
As Tiangco rightly emphasized, "We should put in place a large-scale and long-term plan against floods." It’s time to move from reactive mitigation to proactive prevention when it comes to dealing with such natural calamities.