The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Monday expressed support for the proposed creation of a Department of Water, which will centralize management of the country’s water resources and flood-control projects.

DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has supported the initiative during discussions with Congress and the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).

“We fully support the creation of a separate Department of Water that will handle water resources management. It’s very important and we will support this 100 percent,” Dizon said during the Senate hearing on the DPWH’s proposed 2026 budget.

Senate Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito raised the proposal, noting that consolidating all water-related programs under one agency would improve efficiency and help address the country’s recurring problems of flooding and water shortage.

“Sa laki nga ng DPWH, hindi niyo na namo-monitor kaya siguro may nakakalusot (Because the DPWH is so large, you’re no longer able to monitor everything, that’s probably why some irregularities slip through). With a Department of Water, we can manage our resources more effectively — impounding, storing, and controlling floods,” Ejercito said.

Ejercito also pushed for the passage of his proposed Masterplan for Infrastructure and National Development (MIND) Act to institutionalize long-term infrastructure planning and prevent overlapping, wasteful, or anomalous projects.

“We spend about PHP350 billion a year on flood control — that’s around PHP1 billion everyday. But flooding keeps getting worse because projects are scattered and inconsistent. We need a masterplan that continues regardless of who’s in power,” he said.

Dizon agreed that poor coordination has affected project implementation, citing that the DPWH is developing a Central Luzon Floodway Masterplan funded by the Asian Development Bank, which is set for completion by August 2026.

The DPWH chief also confirmed that the agency’s proposed 2026 budget of PHP625.78 billion is the lowest since 2020, in line with the President’s directive to rationalize spending and prioritize essential projects. (PNA)