The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) reported on Saturday that over 5,000 flood control projects are currently being constructed across the country.

These projects are not included in the 5,521 flood control projects completed between July 2022 and May 2024 that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., reported during his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, according to DPWH Undersecretary Cathy Cabral.

“We have completed more than 5,500-plus flood control progress from July 2022 to May 2024, while we have 5,000-plus more that are ongoing right now,” Cabral said at the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City.

Cabral said that while the recent massive rainfall brought by Super Typhoon Carina and habagat (monsoon rains) was unprecedented, the National Capital Region (NCR) and many other parts of the country could have experienced worse if it were not for the government’s flood control projects.

“Pero marami hong mga portion ng Metro Manila na kung hindi po namin nagawa ang mga interventions namin over the year ay baka ho mas malala pa (If we haven’t done these interventions over the past year, the flooding in many parts of Metro Manila could have been worse),” Cabral said.

She added that the cause of the flooding was overpopulation and that the drainage system could no longer hold its capacity.

“Malaki na po ang population compared iyong carrying capacity ng NCR. Wala na po tayong lugar. The population is already large compared to the carrying capacity of the NCR. We have no more room),” Cabral explained.

She added that they are also coordinating with local government units and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority regarding the construction of local drainage systems to be connected to the national drainage. (PNA)