Ejercito seeks better coordination in managing water resources, bats for creation of dedicated department
October 28, 2025
Senate Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito has raised concern over what he described as a “dangerous disconnect” in the government’s management of water resources, pointing to the lack of coordination between flood control projects and agencies with technical expertise in river basins and water systems.
During the Senate deliberation on the budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Monday, Ejercito noted that several flood control projects had moved forward without prior consultation with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
“It is disheartening that even crucial flood control projects have proceeded without proper consultation with the DENR who are the experts on where and how water flows,” Ejercito said, echoing concerns earlier raised by DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon.
The senator warned that poor coordination could undermine the country’s capacity to manage its water supply.
“Every rainy season, we have abundant water, yet when the dry season comes, there is scarcity. This should not happen if we plan and manage our water properly,” he said.
Ejercito also underscored that many infrastructure projects focus mainly on diverting water to the sea, rather than storing or reusing it for dry months.
He warned that without coordination and science-based planning, anomalous projects would persist as decisions are left to individual discretion rather than technical guidance.
The senator said that creating a centralized agency—through the proposed Department of Water Resources Management—would promote a more coherent and sustainable approach to both water conservation and flood control, while also curbing the occurrence of anomalous projects.
In the same hearing, Dizon reported that poorly designed structures, such as dikes and drainage systems built without coordination with local experts, may have worsened flooding in some areas instead of preventing it.
“This is not a laughing matter,” Ejercito said. “Water is becoming scarcer every day worldwide. We need a full-fledged agency to prevent mismanagement, coordinate all projects, and safeguard this vital resource for every Filipino.”
