The opportunity is there.
The timing is perfect.
So why are officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) not taking advantage of it?
Following the revelations of billions of pesos lost in ghost flood-control projects during the first three terms of the administration of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr., some concerned sectors have placed faith on the new leadership inside the DPWH not only to unravel the gargantuan greed and corruption that has become the way of life inside the agency but also to push through with concrete (in the literal and figurative sense) solutions to the decades-long issue of flooding in Laguna province and elsewhere.
Nowhere is this more evident than in the first district of Laguna alone, which had been allocated a staggering P7.560 billion for flood-control projects from 2023 to 2025, according to data obtained by OpinYon.
Given that many of these projects have been reportedly substandard, while some said to be suspect ghost projects, the DPWH should have remedied the issue by developing stronger solutions to mitigate the decades-long issue of floods.
Yet even with favorable weather conditions, partly due to the onset of the dry spell brought by the El Niño phenomenon, some sectors believe the agency is not using the opportunity to finally resolve the decades-long issue of flooding – and redeem its tarnished reputation in the process.
'Mabagal magtrabaho'
Biñan City, Laguna Representative Arman Dimaguila himself pulled no punches when, in an exclusive interview with OpinYon Laguna, he gave a status update on the various projects designed to mitigate flooding in the two coastal barangays of Dela Paz and Malaban.
"The bad news is, mabagal magtrabaho ang mga taga-DPWH," was how he bluntly described the situation.
While several feasibility studies have been forwarded on what long-term solutions can be found, Dimaguila implied that many of these so-called "plans" have yet to be finalized, even on paper.
It's perfectly understandable that the agency has implemented stricter rules and regulations on infrastructure projects after the billion-peso flood-control anomaly revelations last year.
But what happened, the solon added, was that it went to the other extreme: it became too cautious and hesitant when it came to implementing new flood-control projects.
"Sabi ko nga, dati nga, yung mga 'ghost projects,' binabayaran ninyo, pero etong [mga proyekto] na magiging effective – well..." Dimaguila recounted with a shrug.
Perfect timing
However, the solon expressed his belief that "time is of the essence" when it comes to solving the perennial issue of flooding in Laguna's coastal areas.
In fact, according to Dimaguila, the conditions at Laguna de Bay are perfect to allow construction of major flood-control projects.
"Ika nga ng mga matatanda, uhaw pa ang Laguna Lake," he explained.
In an advisory issued June 16, the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) noted that the lake's water level now stood at 10.90 meters.
This was slightly higher than the 10.85 meters recorded on June 5, when Pagasa declared the start of the monsoon season or "habagat."
But this was still way below the 12.50 meters critical high level that Laguna de Bay breached last year during the weeklong period of non-stop rains.
El Niño
Not only that, Pagasa has declared the onset of the El Niño phenomenon this June, and authorities have warned that this could gradually intensify into a strong to very strong condition by the last quarter of 2026.
Pagasa weather specialists have explained that while rainfall will remain sufficient in the coming months, a significant decline is expected starting October, potentially worsening into prolonged drought by the first quarter of next year.
Bad news for certain sectors, such as the country’s agriculture industry – but, according to Dimaguila, good news for those seeking to put an end to flooding in parts of Laguna.
"The way I see it, sa awa ng Diyos, baka makaligtas tayo ng 2026 [nang walang matinding pagbaha]," Dimaguila said.
Urgent effort
But, as Dimaguila lamented, the spell of good fortune may not hold unless DPWH officials fast-track the construction of flood-mitigation structures, particularly pumping stations and dikes, in Biñan City and elsewhere.
In fact, the sudden turn-around of certain DPWH officials when it comes to implementing projects that would’ve reduced the misery of millions of Lagunenses and others is mind-boggling.
Perhaps it wouldn’t be too harsh to say that all they are waiting for is a scolding from Secretary Vince Dizon – such as what had happened a few days back in Manila – to get off their high horses and work?
Or perhaps it was the disappearance of the circulation of “maletas” of cash from the agency that also deprived some of them of the incentive to implement major infrastructure projects?
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