President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. emphasized the government’s intensified efforts to construct dams and implement flood control projects to mitigate the impacts of climate change and ensure water security for households and agriculture.
Speaking at the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas rally in Batangas City, President Marcos highlighted the unprecedented frequency of typhoons, with six hitting the Philippines between October and December of the previous year, underscoring the urgent need for climate adaptation measures.
“We are aggressively building dams and flood control projects because the climate is changing,” the President stated. “We must strengthen our flood control systems.”
He stressed the critical role of dams in addressing water scarcity, particularly following the El Niño phenomenon, which significantly impacted agricultural production. “We are now better prepared should another El Niño occur, having learned from the shortcomings of the previous one,” he asserted.
Beyond flood control, President Marcos outlined the administration’s focus on securing a reliable water supply for domestic consumption and agricultural irrigation. “These dams serve not only for flood control but also for water storage, benefiting households and agricultural irrigation,” he explained.
Furthermore, he highlighted the use of dams for hydroelectric power generation to meet the country’s growing electricity demands.
President Marcos also announced the completion of the “One Grid” project, aimed at ensuring a stable and nationwide electricity supply. “In the past year, we successfully established the ‘One Grid’,” he noted.
He explained that this unified power network connects the entire country, eliminating regional power grid isolation. “Previously, Mindanao, Negros, and Luzon had separate grids. Now, with interconnected grids, we are experiencing a more stable electricity situation,” the President concluded.
