Pili: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to implement an updated Bicol River Basin Master Plan to address the perennial flooding in the Bicol region.

According to Philippines News Agency, Marcos gave the directive during his meeting with the Regional Development Council (RDC) in Pili, Camarines Sur. "I already instructed the Public Works to come up with a master plan, which is appropriate for now. There is no other way to address the flooding problem except to manage the water flowing into the Bicol Region River Basin," he stated, as quoted by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).

The President emphasized the necessity of a new plan due to the inadequacy of the former master plan in dealing with emerging crises and stressed the impact of climate change on the severity of weather patterns. He noted the importance of making the new master plan accessible to all stakeholders, particularly the implementing agencies, to ensure proper understanding and execution.

Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan reported that the master plan for the Bicol Region River Basin has been updated under the Philippine-Korea Project Facilitation Program. Bonoan communicated to Marcos that the updated plan includes basic parameters and considerations for climate change.

Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr. proposed that the DPWH dredge the low-lying areas of the Bicol River, specifically the Libmanan-Cabusao and the Nabua-Bato-Baao Lake. Villafuerte highlighted the flood-prone areas and suggested that dredging could serve as an immediate solution prior to the comprehensive implementation of the master plan, given the shallowness of the river.

Last October, Marcos recommended revisiting the Bicol River Basin Development Program (BRBDP) to prevent severe flooding during weather disasters. The BRBDP, initiated by Marcos' father, former president Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr., concentrated on geography-based development in the Bicol region, including notable irrigation and land consolidation projects that advanced rural organizations and institutions.

During his visit to Camarines Sur in November last year, Marcos instructed various agencies and local government units to collaborate on the integrated and future-proof implementation of plans for the Bicol River Basin.