The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) proposed on Monday a review of the land use and zoning laws to stop informal settlers from clogging and rendering ineffective flood-mitigation projects in Metro Manila.

This came after various areas in Pasig City, Marikina and other flood-prone areas in the metropolis remain swamped in muddy water following the September 26 heavy floods brought about tropical storm “Ondoy.”

“We must have a serious review of the zoning laws and ordinances. We have to prevent informal settlers from clogging and defeating the purpose of constructing multi-billion dams, mega-dikes, spillways and floodways,” Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. said.

Patrick Gatan, DPWH Major Flood Control and Drainage project director, said a review of the factors that cause floodings is needed although the amount of rainfall during Ondoy was higher than that of Hurricane Katrina which ravaged New Orleans in 2005.

DPWH officials noted that Ondoy brought 454 mm amount of rainfall compared to the 414.78 mm of Hurricane Katrina that inundated New Orleans.

“Our system of mega-dikes, and other flood mitigation projects in Metro Manila just couldn’t hold the high volume of water that Ondoy brought to us. Although we have made plans for more flood mitigation projects ahead of time, funding problems have stalled their immediate implementation,” he said.

Ebdane said Filipinos should already consider changing lifestyle by adapting the ways of those who learned to live with floods also believed as a result of climate change.

“People in low-lying areas can follow the residents of Candaba. Laging binabaha pero hindi nagrereklamo dahil ‘yung first floor nila protected ng walls at ang mga gamit nila piled up sa second floor,” Ebdane said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Presidential Spokesman Anthony Golez said local executives should take remedial steps to improve their respective urban development blueprint and even consider issuing ordinances that would help reduce loss of lives and properties in case of another natural disaster.

Golez also encouraged local executives in the provinces to strictly implement safe practices in mining and logging operations to curb the denudation of the country’s forests that often lead to floods.

“The most important thing is to do remedial measures on how to effectively discharge or effectively implement the supposedly urban planning and development of every locality,” Golez said in a news conference in the Palace.

“One very important ingredient in coming out with urban planning and development would be putting into consideration disaster risk reduction measures. Meaning to say, policies, ordinances, must always be put into account disaster risk reduction measures,” he said.

Asked if the government will review the policy on mining and logging operations following the destruction left by storms Ondoy and Pepeng in Luzon, Golez said: “Any decision of any government official that must be implemented should have a shadow of the disaster risk reduction.”

In a related development, Defense Secretary and National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) chairman Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said that tropical storm “Ondoy” has opened a lot of issues, from disaster preparedness to urbanization, that need to be addressed by a new urban planning study.

In an interview during his visit to the flood-stricken town of Marilao in Bulacan, Teodoro said the Office of the President should commission a top-level study to make sure there will be wide participation from among the Cabinet members.

Teodoro made the call as he cited the need to address the concerns involving the almost 300,000 people who, more than a week after Ondoy battered Metro Manila and some parts of Luzon, remain in evacuation centers.