Build large water facilities outside

NCR—Marcos

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday bared his administration’s plan to build “large” water impounding facilities in areas outside of Metro Manila in an effort to control flooding in the country’s metropolis.

Mr. Marcos made the pronouncement in a video message after his sectoral meeting with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) at Malacañan Palace in Manila to discuss the flood control programs.

He said the proposal will not just focus on flood mitigation as the impounded water could also be used for agricultural purposes.

“Let us not waste the water because we will need that. That’s why we are also looking for a way to impound the water. We are now looking for areas outside Metro Manila where we can build large impounding areas,” Mr. Marcos said.

“We will control the flow of water and stop that from submerging Metro Manila. We would also be able to collect the water and use that for other purposes such as agricultural purposes,” he added.

During the sectoral meeting, Mr. Marcos also directed the Water Resources Management Office (WRMO) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to come up with a “comprehensive” plan to protect coastal communities and Metro Manila from flooding, Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil said in a statement.

This as Mr. Marcos noted that the DPWH’s flood control projects in Metro Manila and its surrounding areas have an estimated cost of P351 billion.

“President Marcos underscored the need for a comprehensive plan to control where the floodwaters should go and what should be done,” Garafil said.

Aside from the flood control initiatives, Mr. Marcos said the government is also monitoring the climate crisis because of its devastating effects to various sectors.

Makati-Taguig land dispute still sizzling

By Rey E. Requejo and Joel E. Zurbano

THE Taguig City government is eyeing the takeover of the 729-hectare Fort Bonifacio Military Reservation from Makati City’s jurisdiction, including the Bonifacio Global City (BGC) complex and several barangays which the Supreme Court (SC) earlier declared as part of Taguig.

Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano made the disclosure as she officially asked SC to direct Makati City Mayor Abigail “Abby” Binay to show cause why she should not be sanctioned for her “improper conduct” in connection with her recent pronouncements about their territorial dispute.

Meanwhile, Makati City administrator Claro Certeza, speaking on behalf of his boss who is currently in London, said they have not seen a copy of the Taguig mayor’s manifestation...

Cayetano personally led the filing of an extremely urgent manifestation with motion ad cautelam against Binay.

“Wherefore, respondent City of Taguig most respectfully prays that the Honorable Court grant leave and admit this manifestation with motion and, after due consideration, require petitioner City of Makati and Mayor Abigail Binay to show cause why they should not be sanctioned,” the manifestation read.

The Taguig government was referring to Binay’s “troubling” claim in media interviews that they received an order setting the case involving the Fort Bonifacio Military Reservation areas for a hearing or oral arguments.

Following Binay’s claim, Cayetano said Taguig’s legal team went to the SC last June 8 to inquire on the existence of an order or document setting the case for hearing or oral arguments.