Following severe localized thunderstorms that submerged parts of Metro Manila last week, a leading disaster scientist called for an urgent overhaul of the country’s anti-flooding strategies, urging authorities to pivot from traditional engineering fixes to a holistic “flood management” framework.
Mahar Lagmay, Executive Director of Project NOAH (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards), stated in a television interview on Thursday that Metro Manila’s chronic inundation is driven by a volatile mix of rapid urbanization, outdated drainage systems, blocked waterways, and climate change-induced torrential rains.
Lagmay argued that completely eliminating floods is an unrealistic goal; instead, the focus must shift toward mitigation and adaptation.
“Hindi natin matatanggal ang baha dito sa Pilipinas. Hindi natin matatanggal ang baha dito sa Metro Manila. Ang maaari nating gawin ay pababain para mas mamanage natin. Ayaw na nga namin tawagin na flood control ito at gusto natin tawagin ito na flood management,” Lagmay said.
We cannot eliminate floods here in the Philippines. We cannot eliminate floods here in Metro Manila. What we can do is lower [the water levels] so we can manage it better. We no longer want to call it flood control; we want to call it flood management.
According to Lagmay, decades of extensive concrete development have paved over natural landscapes, stripping the soil of its capacity to absorb rainwater. This lack of permeable ground triggers rapid surface runoff that easily overwhelms urban drainage grids.
He noted that most existing flood control infrastructures were engineered decades ago and are no longer equipped to handle the extreme rainfall volumes seen today.
The crisis is further compounded by localized blockages. Silted rivers, garbage accumulation, and choked drainage systems severely bottleneck water flow, hitting vulnerable communities the hardest.
“Tapos yung mga nagbabaha dyan, yan yung mga lugar na mabababang lugar,” he pointed out.
And those areas that get flooded, those are the low-lying areas.
To counter increasingly unpredictable and severe deluges, the Project NOAH chief advocated for “hybrid solutions” that blend traditional gray infrastructure with nature-based interventions.
He recommended integrating detention basins, bioswales, rainwater harvesting systems, widespread tree planting, and the preservation of open green spaces to act as temporary natural reservoirs during storms.
Furthermore, Lagmay pushed for uncompromising urban planning policies, insisting that critical facilities and residential zones must be kept away from high-risk zones.
“Ang pinakamaganda ay iiwas natin yung pagtatayo ng mga kabahayan, mga gusali, critical facilities doon sa mabababang lugar,” he stressed.
The best approach is to avoid building houses, buildings, and critical facilities in low-lying areas.
While river rehabilitation, dredging, and rigorous solid waste management remain vital to restoring the capacity of waterways, Lagmay emphasized that local and national agencies must align their efforts using a unified watershed management approach.
As long-term structural changes take time to materialize, Lagmay warned the public to brace themselves and remain highly vigilant with the wet season just around the corner.
“Malapit na po ang tag-ulan, ngayon ay Mayo na. Pagdating po ng July-August, napakatindi na po ng mga habagat natin dito sa Metro Manila. Mag-ingat po tayo at sundin po ang batas at sundin po ang mga abiso ng inyong LGU at ng national government,” he concluded.
The rainy season is near, it is already May. By July and August, our southwest monsoons here in Metro Manila will be very intense. Let us be careful, obey the law, and follow the advisories of your LGU and the national government.