Marcos orders review of Bicol River Basin Development Program after recent flooding

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered a review of the Bicol River Basin Development Program, originally launched in the 1970s under his father's administration. This comes after Severe Tropical Storm Kristine caused significant flooding in the Bicol region. The program, which aimed to improve infrastructure and agriculture, was halted in 1986. A 2012 review highlighted issues like poor design and lack of local input. The current focus will be on enhancing flood mitigation efforts, addressing ongoing flooding problems in the area. A master plan for flood control was completed in July, with detailed engineering set for 2025 and construction expected to begin in 2026. Funding for the project will come from the Korea Eximbank.