ILOILO City – Newly designated Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security (CORDS) for Western Visayas, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) secretary Raphael Lotilla, has ordered a rigorous validation of all completed flood control and infrastructure projects in Region 6, signaling tighter scrutiny over public works amid intensifying tropical storms and climate threats.
In his first official visit to the region on February 12, Lotilla directed the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to ensure strict compliance with national engineering and environmental standards, stressing that infrastructure must withstand increasingly severe weather disturbances.
Lotilla said the directive aligns with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s agenda for resilient infrastructure and strengthened internal security, emphasizing that governance must move toward a more holistic and accountable system.
He underscored that infrastructure development cannot be detached from environmental sustainability and public safety, calling for improved project management and quality assurance in flood mitigation efforts across Western Visayas.
Aside from ordering validation of completed projects, Lotilla proposed adopting rainwater-harvesting systems to mitigate flash floods during heavy rains while promoting sustainable water utilization.
During meetings with regional leaders, the Secretary also reviewed progress under the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), reiterating that peace efforts must be reinforced through concrete socio-economic interventions.
“Peace is maintained not only by laying down arms but also by rebuilding lives. Our socio-economic efforts target the root causes of conflict: poverty, exclusion, and lack of opportunity. Food assistance, emergency employment, farm-to-market roads, land patent issuance, and classroom construction, all show the government’s commitment to delivering the tangible benefits of peace to our communities,” Lotilla said.
He stressed that environmental stewardship and regional security must work in tandem under a “whole-of-government” approach, describing sustainability and security as “two sides of the same coin” in ensuring a resilient future for Western Visayas. (RJM/PN)
