A lawmaker from Albay has urged the Department of Public Works and Highways to reconsider its nationwide ban on flood control projects, citing urgent needs in some areas. This follows damage from Typhoon Uwan in the region, which led to widespread evacuations and one death.
Albay 3rd District Rep. Raymond Adrian Salceda expressed dismay over the Department of Public Works and Highways' ongoing nationwide ban on flood control projects, which has left structures damaged by Typhoon Kristine in October 2024 unrepaired. Salceda stated, “because of the national ban on flood control projects, many structures that were damaged by Typhoon Kristine (in October 2024) remain unrepaired.”
To combat flooding as Typhoon Uwan approached, local authorities conducted temporary sandbagging operations to delay inundation and facilitate evacuations. However, “Eventually, the sandbags gave way,” Salceda said. He appealed to the DPWH to “prioritize appropriate, scientific and evidence-based flood control projects for the district.”
The typhoon resulted in the evacuation of at least 25,000 families, with the number potentially higher pending confirmation from local government units. One fatality was recorded in Libon town due to Typhoon Uwan. This incident underscores the pressing need for improved flood control measures in Albay amid recurring storms in the Philippines.