The head of the University of the Philippines Resilience Institute (UPRI) emphasized the need for good governance and the use of science in helping address flooding in the whole country.

UPRI Executive Director Mahar Lagmay on Saturday, August 23, highlighted the importance of good governance amid issues on alleged anomalous flood control projects.

“Kapag hindi good ang governance, nagkakaroon ng katiwalian. ‘Yung pera na dapat nauukol para mas maging maginhawa ang buhay ng mamamayan ay nauunsiyami, hindi natutuloy,” he said on the sidelines of a flood control resilience initiatives summit in Valenzuela City.

“So importante talaga ‘yung datos ay open, transparent ang governance para sa ganung paraan. Kapag transparent, ‘yung mga hindi kanais-nais na mga bagay na maaring mangyari ay hindi mangyari, and with openness of data sets,” Lagmay added.

The resilience expert said urban planning is very important, as well as science and “nature-based solutions.”

“Importante na ma-mainstream ang science at maging risk-informed ang plano kasi kapag hindi science-based at risk-informed ang mga plano, ‘yung ating mga ginagawa ay walang basehan. Kapag science-based at saka risk-informed ligtas ang ating mga mamamayan, development will continue even if there are hazards,” he said.

“Kapag ka meron tayong mga ginagawa na science-based, natutukoy natin kaagad, mas nakakapipid ang mga mamamayan. Hindi tayong gastos ng P150 billion per year. Eh ang nagagawa lang ng kalikasan na kada taon ay nakakapinsala lang ng P50 billion,” Lagmay pointed out.

The UP scientist said there is no one-size-fits-all solution but all the initiatives will come together to curb flooding.

“Lahat ‘yan importante kasi hindi mo naman masolusyonan ang problema natin na per location. Pagka marami ang solusyon na maliliit, ‘pag nagsama-sama ‘yun, maaari mo ang masolusyonan ang problema,” Lagmay shared.

“Bago mo magawa ‘yun, kailangan hanapin mo muna at intindihin ‘yung problema gamit ang syensya. Gagamitin mo ‘yung teknolohiya para malaman po ano ‘yung tamang solusiyon na gagawin,” he added.

Lagmay said it might be time to think of new strategies, aside from infrastructure projects, to address flooding.

“Mag-isip tayo ng ibang strategy, maari nating isulong pa, i-push natin ‘yung paggamit ng syensya at pag-usapan. Mas maging innotative, mas maging imaginative. Ang importante, huwag natin inuulit ‘yung alam na natin na mali,” he said.

Lagmay explained that each location has a different problem when it comes to flooding, not all of which rely on infrastructure projects for a solution.

“Kailangan inaalam natin ang dagdag sa problema katulad ng pagtayo ng mga gusali sa ibabaw ng mga sapa, ‘yung pagtapon ng basura, ‘yung mga pagputol ng mga puno, excessive na concrete na pwede naman, nag-absorb na mga parks, imbis na concrete ay hayaan na lang ang lupa na may tanim o kaya mga sponge roads,” he said.

“Maraming mga pwede tayong gawin na hindi lang dike ang gagamitin. Kasama na ‘yung mga traditional, katulad doon mga pumps, katulad doon mga dike, kasamahan pa natin doon ng mga iba para maging mas maigi ang solution,” Lagmay shared.

When asked about the cause of recent flooding in parts of Metro Manila, he said there’s no one explanation since situations differ in each city.

But he mentioned the accumulation of trash, narrowing of drainages and construction of various buildings near waterways are the common reasons. (ABS-CBN News)