FROM HEADWATERS TO COAST: Think tank pitches PHP 165B flood plan for Metro Iloilo

ILOILO CITY – The Office of Civil Defense-6, in partnership with an Iloilo-based think tank, has proposed a PHP 165 billion, 15-year integrated flood-control and water-retention program for Metro Iloilo to address recurring flooding and water scarcity by managing the entire river basin, from upstream watersheds to coastal areas.

The program, developed by the Institute of Contemporary Economics (ICE), seeks to reduce flooding during ordinary and moderately severe rainfall while retaining stormwater as a managed resource to help secure the region’s water supply.

Its proponents include Sanny Jegillos, former senior adviser for disaster risk reduction and recovery at the United Nations Development Programme’s Crisis Bureau; Joseph Ladrido, ICE executive director; and Melvin Purzuelo of Green Forum Panay Guimaras.

OCD-6 Director Raul Fernandez, who chairs the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council-6 (RDRRMC-6), said the council presented the proposal during its third full meeting, where members adopted it.

Fernandez said the initiative addresses the recurring problem of excess water during heavy rainfall and insufficient water supply during prolonged dry periods.

“When it rains, we always experience flooding, and a lot of water goes to waste. During extreme heat, however, we experience water shortages. This shows that we are not managing our water resources effectively,” he said.

Metro Iloilo has seen both extremes this year. On Aug. 17, rains enhanced by the southwest monsoon averaged 70 millimeters per hour and reached up to 165 millimeters within six hours, flooding 65 Iloilo City barangays, according to the city’s Emergency Operations Center.

On the supply side, an ICE policy proposal released in June estimated Iloilo City’s water requirement at 219 million liters per day (MLD), leaving the system about 139 MLD short, with piped service covering only about 26 percent of the concession area.

The proposed Water Project is a 15-year, source-to-sea flood-performance and water-retention program scheduled for implementation from 2027 to 2041.

It comprises 14 proposed investment packages covering five interconnected stages: the headwaters, mid-basin, Jaro River system, Metro Iloilo, and Iloilo Strait.

The program carries an initial program-control allocation of PHP 165 billion.

Fernandez said the proposal had been submitted for further study and feasibility assessment to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), which chairs the council’s disaster prevention and mitigation pillar.

He stressed that the figure remains preliminary.

“At this stage, the proposal should be viewed as a framework for further technical evaluation and discussion. The PHP 165 billion allocation is not a validated engineering estimate, approved appropriation, or confirmed government commitment,” Fernandez said.

Five components

The proposed program adopts a source-to-sea approach, recognizing that water management must cover the entire system, from upstream watersheds to downstream rivers and coastal areas.

Fernandez said the first component focuses on the headwaters, where runoff reduction, soil conservation, and sediment control are proposed to manage the volume and movement of water downstream.

The second covers the mid-basin, emphasizing water retention, floodplain restoration, and storage facilities to provide added capacity for excess water.

The third focuses on the Jaro River system, particularly the completion of floodways and improved river conveyance to manage the movement of floodwaters.

The Jaro Floodway, completed in 2011 with support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency after Typhoon Frank devastated the city in 2008, has eased pressure on the urban core.

ICE has noted, however, that the floodway left the wider basin unaddressed, with upstream runoff, floodplain loss, sedimentation, and tide-locked drainage still compounding floods in a denser, more paved city.

The fourth covers Metro Iloilo, where possible interventions include drainage improvements, outfall management, floodgates, pumping stations, and urban detention facilities.

The fifth focuses on the lower basin and coastal areas, particularly the Batiano-Oton corridor, where tidal backflow may restrict the discharge of floodwaters.

Elevation compounds the coastal risk. About 90 percent of Iloilo City’s land area sits at roughly 2.64 meters above mean sea level, according to ICE, with land subsidence reaching up to 8.8 millimeters per year in some districts.

Fernandez said these components underscore the need to manage water resources as one interconnected system rather than through isolated flood-control projects.

The OCD-6 director added that improving drainage within the city alone would not be enough if upstream runoff, river capacity, water retention, and coastal outflows were not addressed as part of a coordinated approach.

Fernandez said government agencies have taken a fragmented approach to flooding and water management, with each institution pursuing its own plans and allocating separate budgets, often without coordination.

Iloilo City’s comprehensive drainage plan remains at the feasibility-study stage, according to City Engineer Mavi Gustilo.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has separately proposed PHP 102 million in the 2027 National Expenditure Program for pre-investment studies on an Iloilo City flood control master plan.

“What we are proposing is to bring these efforts together under one integrated water resource management master plan, pooling the funds and resources of the agencies involved to develop a long-term and sustainable solution,” he said.

“This should not be limited to the city because Iloilo City serves as a catchment for water coming from upstream areas, which are beyond the city’s administrative control,” he added.

Multi-agency assessment

Fernandez said the proposal requires a multi-agency technical briefing involving the DPWH, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, National Water Resources Board, DOST, OCD, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, Iloilo City government, concerned municipalities, and affected congressional districts.

“Flood management is a basin-wide concern, so all key institutions should be part of the conversation,” he said.

He also called for an independent technical, economic, and environmental assessment to rigorously evaluate the proposal before major investments are considered.

He said components that pass technical validation could then be aligned with existing national and local infrastructure and disaster risk reduction and management programs to complement, rather than duplicate, ongoing initiatives.

Fernandez said national government funding and development assistance could also be explored once the proposed components have undergone technical validation.

He stressed that the proponents were not seeking immediate approval of the PHP 165 billion proposal, but support for an institutional process through which the ideas could undergo scientific evaluation and eventually become practical solutions for Metro Iloilo.

“The success of our flood-reduction efforts should not be measured solely by the number of infrastructure projects completed, drainage systems constructed, or equipment acquired,” Fernandez said.

“More importantly, it should be measured by the lives we protect, the families we prepare, the communities we provide with timely warnings, and our ability to respond when flooding occurs,” he added.