Green Convergence, with the support of JRS Express, held the 424th session of Kamayan Para Sa Kalikasan forum themed “Baha at Bayanihan: A Holistic Approach to Flood Mitigation” on October 17 via Zoom and Facebook livestream to address worsening flood issues and discuss ecological solutions.
Sr. Marvie Misolas, Executive Director of Miriam College Environmental Studies Institute and a Trustee of Green Convergence, opened the session recognizing climate change, deforestation, watershed degradation, land subsidence, excessive groundwater extraction, and corruption as key causes of flooding.
Noting also that the Philippines is highly vulnerable to disaster due to its geography, at the same time abundant water resources, she calls for actions to ensure resilient communities through more integrated approaches and comprehensive management.
Quezon City’s response to flooding
Following this idea, Leo Martillano, Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer II of the Quezon City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (QCDRRMO), shared the Drainage Master Plan of the city.
The QCDRRMO, in partnership with the University of the Philippines’ (UP) Resilience Institute, has conducted city profiling, taking into account the geophysical, social, infrastructural, economic, and institutional capacities of the locality.
In line with profiling, they have done area-specific assessments, field evaluation and condition assessments, close community consultations, and further analyses on data gathered to anchor their intervention models.
Though the Quezon City Drainage Master Plan is still at the first few steps of its implementation, the QCDRRMO has rolled-out workshops on flood validation, drainage assessment and inventory, General Information Systems (GIS), as well as on the Internet of Things (IoT)-based decision support system.
Other projects involve both structural and community-based interventions, from youth projects for disaster awareness and preparedness, relocation for those along easements of waterways, participatory monitoring and evaluation mechanisms for barangays, stormwater detention basins wherein basketball courts will be utilized, rainwater harvesting systems for schools and public markets, permeable pavements for sidewalks, to solid waste management for flood risk reduction—and more.
Martillano also emphasized that, when designing and proposing drainage-related projects, they aim to ensure the directly-involved local community has ownership over the projects done in their area, building on the concept of ‘bayanihan’ in the face of flood mitigation.
Trees and science-based solutions
Dr. Fernando Siringan, Research Professor from the UP Marine Science Institute, then delved deeper into dealing with flooding with the help of science and trees, referencing various studies that support effective flood mitigation.
He primarily underscored the importance of applying zoning in floodplains where it is still possible, saying that there is a need to respect the very nature of areas’ landscapes in implementing projects. Floodplains are lands beside rivers and waterways subject to flooding.
Dr. Siringan then reiterated the benefits of reforestation, such as decreasing or delaying run-offs during heavy rains and sediment yield, increasing groundwater recharge, summer stream flow, and biodiversity, lowering air temperature, and prolonging the lifespan of dams and Small Water Impounding Projects (SWIPs).
Considering trees as known natural shields, he presented studies that showed mixed planting of trees with different root distribution characteristics should be popularized to help infiltration of urban trees, as well as “sponge city” projects that may be replicated locally.
Dr. Siringan also linked the benefits of increased forest covers for SWIPS, mentioning observations in the 12 SWIPs of Alcala, Cagayan. Loss of trees can shorten the lifespan of SWIPs due to increased run-offs, soil erosion, sediment-filled rivers, and diminished dry season flow; and, if not desilted, can be costly for municipalities and farmers.
He added that initial trees to be planted in the SWIPs of Alcala should be more tolerant of drier conditions and that propagation of endemic, vulnerable, endangered, and critical trees should be given ‘special attention.’
Dr. Siringan also explained the importance of the river widening and implementation of waterway easement to allow improved transmission of floodwaters downstream, taking notice of the governmental mistake of not wanting to deal with communities in terms of relocation.
“Widening of [water] channels is a more permanent measure of addressing floods. The effect of river dredging is very temporary,” he stated.
Moreover, Dr. Siringan shared that preservation of sand dunes also lessens flooding issues, as they stop seawater from entering the coast and have vegetation that hold the sand in place. Also on coastal preservation, he reinforced the need for wider mangrove belts to reduce wave energy impacts.
Furthermore, on the relation of reclamation projects and the flooding issues, Dr. Siringan said, “Reclamation, if done improperly, kung ito ay nakakabara sa ilog—and I have seen some reclamations na maraming illegal [activities] all over the Philippines na nagpapasikip sa mga ilog—then, definitely, problema ‘yan sa pagbabaha.”
Reflections and ways forward
Reflecting on the discussions of Martillano and Dr. Siringan, Architect and Environmental Planner Dr. Leah dela Rosa, Chairperson of Miriam College’s Department of Sustainability and Environment, built on the idea of ‘looking at where we are’ and understanding local conditions and data in addressing the flood situation.
In understanding these, she also remarked that there should be deeper acknowledgement of shortcomings and acceptance of the consequences of the oversights and mistakes towards nature throughout generations in order to achieve sustainable development.
Dr. dela Rosa then called for sectoral and cross-cultural engagement through formal, informal, and indigenous knowledge-based studies based on past similar experiences, patterns, or actual conditions, highlighting the need for a paradigm shift in behavioral transitions.
Hinting on the current political climate with regard to flood control, she also noted that there is a need for increased levels or degree of governance over proper implementation of mitigation strategies.
Ultimately, Dr. dela Rosa called to ‘return to basics and let nature take its own pace. “We have to be ethical, honest, responsible, and good stewards of our environment and our natural resources—kung mayroon pang natitira,” she expressed.
This sentiment was then echoed by the President of Green Convergence, Victoria Segovia, in her closing remarks, reverting to the ‘nature knows best’ environmental principle and emphasizing that there should be respect for the natural cycles of the environment.
Next Kamayan session was announced to be on November 21, 2025.
Kamayan Para Sa Kalikasan is a monthly initiative organized by Green Convergence that enables non-government organizations (NGOs) and government representatives, the media, students, teachers, church groups, and concerned citizens to discuss, analyze, and create solutions to pressing environmental issues in the country.
For those interested to be a member of Green Convergence, visit these links to register: bit.ly/GCMembershipRegForm