DPWH to take second look at Aquino admin’s flood control master plan – Palace

September 3, 2026

By ABOGADO.COM.PH Staff

The Department of Public Works and Highways is considering a closer look into the flood control master plan crafted under the administration of the late ex-President Benigno Aquino III, Malacañang said on Thursday.

“Sa ngayon po ay merong nababanggit sa Secretary Vince Dizon patungkol do’n sa Aquino-Singson master plan. At ‘yan po ang isa sa mga maaaring pag-aralan,” said Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace press officer Claire Castro said in a press briefing.

“Kasama na rin ang binanggit ni Secretary Vince Dizon patungkol sa flood control master plans para sa major river basins. So ‘yan po ay pagsasama-samahin at titignan at kailangan na po rin i-update,” she added.

Castro said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. also highlighted the importance of updating plans and making them responsive to the effects of extreme weather conditions due to climate change.

In 2012, the Aquino administration approved a P 351 billion long-term flood management master plan to solve Metro Manila’s flood woes.

Back then, then Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson said the full implementation of the flood control plan will only be realized in 2035 due to the large scale infrastructure involved.

Castro said the administration of ex-President Rodrigo Duterte did not turn over this master plan to the Marcos administration.

In an earlier interview, Marcos said the Philippines has a decades-old flood master plan that was never implemented.

Castro said he was referring to a plan dating back to the 1930s or 1940s, but it was not implemented.