Renowned architect and urban planner Felino “Jun” Palafox Jr. emphasized that flood control should not be treated as an isolated issue but as part of a larger, integrated urban planning framework.
Palafox said flood control and drainage are only one component of infrastructure planning, which must begin with a clear vision for urban development — including land use, zoning, transportation, and public facilities such as water supply, sewerage, education, and health care.
“We should plan from ridge to reef, from the mountaintops to the coastlines,” Palafox said on the sidelines of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines–Mindanao event on Thursday.
Palafox also highlighted the need for a holistic approach that considers the area topography and ecosystem.
Palafox also underscored the importance of rainwater harvesting, which is widely practiced in more progressive cities.
“They collect rainwater from rooftops, recycle it for irrigation and firefighting. We should adopt that,” he said.
He warned that many of the country’s drainage and sewerage systems are outdated and undersized, unable to cope with stronger and more frequent typhoons.
“Our drainage lines are about 70% undersized, maybe more. Nationwide, it’s about 75%. The design criteria we use may already be obsolete,” Palafox added.
The architect urged both local and national governments to update flood control standards and adopt long-term, climate-resilient urban planning strategies to protect cities from worsening flood risks.
