Speaker urges Sierra Madre forest protection as flood risks mount

MANILA – Highlighting the escalating dangers posed by heavy rainfall and tropical cyclones, House Speaker Faustino "Bojie" G. Dy III on Friday emphasized the critical need to preserve the Sierra Madre mountain range and related natural infrastructure as vital defenses against worsening weather conditions.

The appeal comes as Metro Manila and adjacent areas face increased vulnerability to flooding during the typhoon season. Dy stressed that forests, watersheds, and other ecological systems serve as natural buffers against severe weather impacts, reducing flood risk and protecting communities.

A House technical working group has resumed deliberations on proposed legislation aimed at strengthening protections for these natural defenses. The measure seeks to establish comprehensive safeguards for forest cover and watershed areas that are essential to the region's flood mitigation efforts.

Experts have long warned that deforestation and environmental degradation in critical catchment areas leave urban centers increasingly exposed to flooding and landslides during heavy precipitation events. The Speaker's push for legislative action reflects growing concern among policymakers about the relationship between ecosystem health and disaster resilience in the Philippines.