Active public participation is one of the keys to effective flood mitigation, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) underscored Saturday.
DPWH Director Alex Bote said flood mitigation should be a concerted effort between the government and the public.
The public can help reduce the risk of flood through proper waste management and disposal, he said.
“We do need a combination of all efforts, not only from the government side, but also doon sa mga kasamahan natin, kapwa ka-masa natin, na be careful lang po sa pagma-manage ng mga waste materials natin,” Bote said in a news forum in Quezon City.
Bote explained that while flood control structures are capable of handling a specific volume of water based on its engineering design, its efficiency can be diminished because of waste materials clogging the systems.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. earlier called on DPWH to ensure flood control projects are durable, and climate-resilient. He issued the order following the series of typhoons that caused severe flooding in some parts of the country.
The President noted existing flood control measures were not enough. (PND)
