Large-scale water impounding facilities, tunnel system eyed for Bicol region
A party-list lawmaker proposed on Tuesday the construction of large-scale water impounding facilities across the Bicol region with the dual purpose of reducing floods and addressing water shortage during the dry season.
Ako Bicol party-list Rep Elizaldy Co emphasized the value of water management as a long-term solution to flooding and water scarcity in the region.
Co, who chairs the House appropriations committee, cited as an example the six-story deep water impounding facility in Bonifacio Global City which is designed to capture rainwater.
He highlighted the dual benefit of having such structures, saying,
“The stored water can be a valuable resource during summer, providing both irrigation and drinking water. This initiative supports both food security and climate resilience for the region.”
Apart from constructing water impounding facilities, Co said that discussions with the Department of Public Works and Highways are underway for tunnel systems through Bicol’s mountain ranges to expedite water diversion to the sea.
“These tunnels would act like a flush system, allowing us to release excess flood water during extreme weather events,” he explained.
Addressing Senator Joel Villanueva’s query on the supposed P61.42-billion budget for flood control projects in the Bicol region for 2023 and 2024, Co pointed out that the allocation was not limited to these projects.
“It’s a comprehensive budget that includes roads, hospitals, government buildings, and schools across Bicol’s 17 districts, six provinces, and seven cities,” he said.
Villanueva called out social media posts last week that the Bicol region had only P9 billion allocated for flood control projects, which caused heavy flooding in the area due to Typhoon Kristine. He claimed that Bicol had an allocation of P61.42 billion for flood control projects.
