Philippines Senate Proposes Laws to Manage Floods and Rainwater Runoff

Strategic Insights -

The Philippines Senate is pushing for three legislative measures to strengthen the country's disaster resilience and flood control system. Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan is proposing the Rainwater Runoff Management and Control Act, the National Land Use Act of 2025, and the National Water Resources Management Act to protect lives, communities, jobs, and critical infrastructure. The senator emphasizes the need for a national, science-based approach to flood management, citing the devastating impact of typhoons and flooding across regions.

Key Takeaways:

  • Senator Pangilinan has filed three legislative measures to address the country's flood control and management issues: the Rainwater Runoff Management and Control Act, the National Land Use Act of 2025, and the National Water Resources Management Act.
  • The proposed laws aim to establish a Department of Water Resources to plan, coordinate, and implement the comprehensive development and management of the country's water resources.
  • The Rainwater Runoff Management and Control Act seeks to minimize rainwater runoff, prevent water quality degradation, and reduce soil erosion and nonpoint source pollution.
  • The National Land Use Act of 2025 pushes for the creation of a National Geo-hazard Mapping Program to identify prone areas and promote sustainable land use and disaster risk reduction.
  • Accountability mechanisms and penalties for non-implementation are included in the proposals to ensure transparency and efficiency in the use of public funds for flood mitigation.
  • Pangilinan emphasizes the need for a science-based approach to flood management and calls on his colleagues and government agencies to support the proposed legislation.

Statistics:

  • The Philippines experiences severe flooding every year, resulting in loss of lives, livelihoods, and critical infrastructure.
  • The proposed Rainwater Runoff Management and Control Act aims to reduce rainwater runoff rates and volumes, soil erosion, and nonpoint source pollution.
  • The National Water Resources Management Act seeks to develop or update existing River Basin Master Plans to manage water supply, sewerage, and sanitation, irrigation, flood control, and other public water works projects.

Sources:

  • Senate of the Philippines, "Pangilinan Underscores Need for Laws to Manage Flood, Rainwater" (July 22, 2025) https://web.senate.gov.ph/press_release/2025/0722_pangilinan1.asp