Nature brings rain; we make floods worse
On April 22, 2026, I wrote “Harnessing the Storms: Converting Deluge to Water Assets.” The point was simple: the Philippines does not lack water; it lacks systems to capture, store, and use it. Water is vital for homes, industry, agriculture, power, and other essential needs. Recent floods expose three failures: inadequate infrastructure, weak accountability, and waste practices that turn waterways into hazards.
Take Edsa. Portions of recently rehabilitated areas developed potholes after heavy rains. Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said water pooled near Buendia, a low point without adequate drainage, and the contractor would repair the damage at no cost to government. But why was the drainage problem missed? Roads must be designed, built, and inspected for actual conditions. Taxpayers deserve to know why infrastructure fails prematurely and who is responsible.
The same test should apply to flood control projects under investigation. The Department of Justice says P841.3815 million recovered from alleged anomalies has been returned to the treasury. That matters, but it is only a start. A government review of 9,855 projects worth P545.64 billion from July 2022 to May 2025 raised questions about descriptions, locations, and contracts. The recovered amount is only about 0.15 percent of the program’s value, underscoring the need for deeper forensic audits.
Due process matters. Allegations are not convictions. Failed flood control projects must be measured not only in pesos but also in flooded homes, lost livelihoods, stranded commuters, disrupted classes and lives at risk. This is social injustice: those with the least suffer most. Recovering money is important; holding proven wrongdoers to account is imperative.
Then there is garbage. Recent floods overwhelmed Metro Manila’s drainage system with massive volumes of waste. According to the Philippine News Agency, crews removed about 640 metric tons, or 117 truckloads, from the Baclaran-Redemptorist water channel. Government must collect waste, maintain drainage and enforce the law. But citizens must also do their part. Republic Act No. 9003 prohibits waste dumping in roads, canals, and esteros, yet garbage continues to choke drainage. We cannot demand better flood control while treating waterways as garbage bins.
The garbage problem also presents an opportunity. Properly managed residual waste can become energy instead of a nuisance or risk. As National Renewable Energy Board chair from 2010 to 2016, I pushed for waste-to-energy (WTE) projects. Investors needed reliable long-term supply—difficult to secure when local officials served three-year terms while projects had 20- to 25-year investment horizons. This barrier can be overcome through long-term, enforceable waste-supply agreements backed by national policy and interlocal government unit arrangements. The Department of Energy (DOE) will reportedly raise its WTE auction target from 230 megawatts (MW) to 400 MW. DOE and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority have also agreed to pursue WTE projects for “less waste, less flooding, and more energy.”
WTE cannot replace waste reduction, segregation, recycling, or collection. Nor should it excuse weak safeguards. Properly designed facilities with strict emissions controls, transparent permitting, and regular monitoring can process residual waste, reduce landfill volumes, generate electricity and keep waste out of waterways.
Reform cannot come in pieces. Water storage, flood diversion and basin-wide planning can capture stormwater for dry months and emergencies. Independent engineering reviews, transparent procurement, geotagged monitoring, rigorous inspection, and payment only after verified performance can protect taxpayers. Reliable waste collection, strict enforcement, and regulated urban WTE can address another major cause of floods. Water does not respect political boundaries; flood management must cover whole river basins and watersheds.
However, sound reforms become mere press releases if no one faces consequences. Officials and contractors proven to have stolen public funds or delivered fraudulent or defective projects must be prosecuted, punished if convicted, and made to return what they took. Repeat waste law violators must also face real penalties. Accountability cannot end with hearings. The public must see results.
Nature brings the rain. We cannot stop it. But poor planning, weak enforcement, defective infrastructure, corruption, and careless waste disposal turn heavy rain into disaster. The rain will continue. What must end is the cycle of failed projects, clogged waterways, and unpunished wrongdoing.
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Pete Maniego is an industrial engineer, lawyer, and economist with over 50 years’ experience in various industries. He is a member of Management Association of the Philippines’ energy and governance committees, president of the Justice Reform Initiative, chair emeritus of the Energy Lawyers Association, and former chair of the National Renewable Energy Board, Institute of Corporate Directors, and University of the Philippines Engineering Research and Development Foundation.
