EDITORIAL: Renewed Hope

PRESIDENT Marcos Jr.’s visit to Naga City this past weekend was a significant moment for the Nagueños, where lives and livelihoods have been continuously disrupted by severe flooding.

His personal presence in the evacuation centers, his interactions with evacuees, and the announcement of renewed government action conveyed more than a gesture of sympathy; it signalled the government’s renewed commitment to tackling the chronic flooding that has plagued the region for decades.

A central highlight of the visit was the President’s announcement to revive the Bicol River Basin Development Program (BRBDP) — a flood control initiative originally launched in the 1970s by his father, former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.

The BRBDP, initially funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) along with international partners, was designed to address chronic flooding while supporting regional infrastructure. Though halted in 1986, its revival presents a powerful reminder of what could have been accomplished had it continued.

President Marcos, acknowledging the worsening impacts of climate change on the frequency and intensity of typhoons, urged Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan to prioritize the BRBDP with a detailed engineering plan set for completion by early 2025.

The plan, backed by the feasibility study updated through a recent collaboration with South Korea, is intended to lay the groundwork for much-needed flood control infrastructure in the Bicol region.

Local leaders and affected communities alike welcomed this directive with cautious optimism, as the region now faces record-breaking flood levels, with floodwaters doubling those recorded during the infamous Typhoon Ondoy in 2009.

In a region where over 4.2 million people have been affected by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine and a total of 19 local government units have declared a state of calamity, the President’s commitment goes beyond rhetoric. His pledge of P30 million in calamity assistance to Naga City, alongside the P50 million turned over to Albay’s acting Governor Glenda Ong-Bongao, provides an immediate, albeit temporary, lifeline for families grappling with the aftermath of Kristine’s devastation.

The President’s message was clear: the time has come for a long-term solution. While short-term relief efforts will continue to ease the suffering of those displaced, this administration appears determined to enact changes that will offer more than short-lived respite.

As climate change exacerbates natural disasters, these adaptive measures are becoming more urgent. The promise to revisit and complete the BRBDP is a vital step toward protecting lives, preserving livelihoods, and ensuring the resilience of Bicol’s communities.

The BRBDP’s revival also holds potential benefits for Bicol’s agricultural sector, which suffers equally from seasonal floods. Improved infrastructure, such as farm-to-market roads and accessible markets, could empower local farmers and reduce travel times, enhancing economic prospects in the region.

President Marcos rightly emphasized that this isn’t only about flood control but about creating a sustainable foundation for economic growth and agricultural development — the lifeblood of the Bicolano people.

The challenge, however, remains considerable. The revival of a program that was abandoned decades ago, alongside the evolving nature of climate-related risks, will require significant resources, coordination, and commitment across multiple government levels.

Nonetheless, President Marcos’s actions during his Naga visit have sparked a new wave of hope among the people of Bicol. His promise to stand by the region, offering continued support as the BRBDP is reinstated, reflects the administration’s vision of resilience.

The people of Bicol are resilient, as history has proven time and again. Now, they look to their leaders not only for aid in the face of disaster but for enduring solutions that address the root causes of their struggles.

President Marcos’s visit to Naga serves as a reminder that while calamities may be unavoidable, the suffering they bring can be mitigated by thoughtful, decisive action. In moving forward with the Bicol River Basin Development Program, the government has signalled its readiness to rise to the challenge — and, hopefully, to build a future where Bicolanos need not face the same flooding calamities, season after season.

In the wake of recent calamities, thousands of Bicolanos continue to reel from widespread destruction and shortages in basic needs. As reported, around 15,000 individuals have taken refuge in evacuation centers, with about 200 families remaining housed at the Naga City Hall, according to Mayor Legacion. The damage in Naga City alone has reached over P1 billion, impacting key infrastructure like bridges, which will require significant resources to rebuild.

Across the province, the situation remains dire, with Ong-Bongao noting that more than 92,000 families in Albay are urgently in need of food supplies. Despite the efforts of local government units and various humanitarian groups, resources are stretched thin, underlining the need for continuous support from both government and private sectors.

Recognizing the gravity of the crisis, President Marcos announced that the Department of Health (DOH) would be deploying additional medical personnel to assist in the region. This comes in response to the appeal from DOH Bicol Center for Health Development’s assistant regional director, Rosa Maria Rempillo, who highlighted the strain on healthcare workers, especially those at the Geriatric Medical Center, where staff have been working for six days straight without relief.

In a region that has weathered countless storms, the resilience of Bicolanos shines through. However, sustained aid is essential to help communities rise above this crisis. The call for solidarity and support resonates as the region looks towards recovery and rebuilding.