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Billions of pesos poured into flood control and infrastructure projects may end up worsening, rather than reducing, the country’s climate vulnerabilities if they are not science-based and backed by strict environmental safeguards.
This is according to University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UP-MSI) Dr. Fernando Siringan, who warned that many projects continue to bypass or water down the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, undermining climate resilience and exposing communities to greater risks.
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In an ambush interview on Wednesday at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) Project Transform Colloquium in Pasay City, Siringan lamented that despite having millions of pesos in budget, most public-funded infrastructure projects proceed without a proper impact study.
“Hindi lahat ng proyekto ay may EIA study, at marami sa mga proyekto ng pamahalaan mismo ang walang EIA (Not all projects have undergone EIA study, and many government projects do not have EIA),” he said.
Siringan noted there are a number of data and methods to guide development. The government and the private sector just need to utilize them, emphasizing that stricter enforcement of EIAs is crucial in preventing flawed projects from being built in the first place.
He warned that the simple dredging of rivers and laying down of concrete flood walls are just temporary fixes. He cited as example the “Room for the River” program in Europe as one of the best global practices.
“Floods will be less frequent, lower in height, less widespread and shorter in duration, if we give rivers more room to flow instead of just repeatedly dredging them,” Siringan explained, noting that widening is better than just dredging.
He also urged policymakers to shift toward nature-based solutions that fit ecosystems.
In his presentation, Siringan noted that tree covers can reduce surface heat by as much as 12-degrees Celsius, intercept rainfall, and allow water to seep into the ground.
“Sponge city” innovations—such as permeable pavements that help flood water seep through the ground, green roofs, and water-absorbing parks—can ease flash floods in urban centers.
Meanwhile, he said that mangrove belts, with just 100 meters of healthy cover, can slash storm wave energy by half, while shielding coastal communities.
“These measures are not only more sustainable but also provide multiple benefits for ecosystems and communities,” he said.
This photo taken on August 14, 2025 shows a backhoe in the middle of ongoing dredging activities for a flood control wall. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) leads the project in cooperation with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and local government units. (Photo by Edd Castro)
Siringan’s call comes as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. widens his probe into alleged anomalous flood control projects, recently ordering a lifestyle check on government executives.
The UP-MSI research professor emphasized that flooding is not just an engineering problem, but also an environmental and governance problem.
DENR Secretary Raphael Lotilla, meanwhile, said the way forward lies in integrated river basin and water management programs, which identify the areas where infrastructure is needed and where it must be avoided altogether.
Citing Marikina as an example, Lotilla said that clearing riverbanks of settlements reduced risks. He also noted that housing projects built in hazard-prone areas expose communities to danger.
“But in areas where one has to refrain from, in fact, filling up the waterways, then it’s not a case of building, but to protect the waterways and floodplains,” he added.
Lotilla admitted that while the country has had many river basin plans, implementation has been weak.
“What has been lacking is faithful implementation. And we want to be able as well to have better coordination with infrastructure agencies. If one looks back at the river basin plants we have had, what has been lacking is faithful implementation of these,” according to the DENR chief.
Lotilla also underscored the significance of better coordination between government agencies and the local government.
“We have received actual complaints where there are infrastructures that have encroached on natural waterways, which they’re not supposed to and they’re asking for cease-and-desist orders,” he said.
“And in a number of cases, these have been issued, but the enforcement, as I’ve said, would have to be done in coordination with the infrastructure agencies at the outset and not after the structures have already been built,” Lotilla added.
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