House advances bill for unified Metro Manila flood control strategy

The House of Representatives approved House Bill No. 11602 on second reading Wednesday, moving the legislation closer to enactment. The bill mandates the creation of a coordinated flood control master plan for the sprawling metropolitan region, addressing the challenges posed by seasonal monsoons and urban flooding that regularly affect millions of residents.

The measure requires government agencies to map and harmonize urban drainage networks across municipal and city borders, eliminating gaps in the current fragmented approach to water management. By establishing a unified framework, the bill aims to ensure more effective coordination among local government units and national agencies responsible for flood prevention and mitigation.

Climate resilience forms a central component of the proposed master plan, requiring the integration of infrastructure designed to withstand increasingly severe weather events. The legislation recognizes the urgent need to modernize Metro Manila's aging drainage systems and adapt them to the realities of climate change.

The bill's advancement reflects growing legislative concern over recurrent flooding in the capital region, which has caused significant economic losses and displaced thousands of families in recent years. The measure now proceeds to third reading before it can be transmitted to the Senate for consideration.