Laguna lawmakers said the LegisHear consultation led by House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III in Calamba City helped bring together support for addressing recurring flooding around Laguna Lake, as they pushed House Resolution No. 906 seeking a comprehensive flood mitigation and management plan for the lake basin.
Speaking at the LegisHear press briefing following the townhall program, Biñan City Lone District Representative Arman Dimaguila said the lake’s diminished capacity to hold water was a shared concern requiring coordinated action across cities, municipalities and national government agencies.
“Ito yung purpose ng LegisHear.”
“Ito yung purpose ng LegisHear. Napag-isa natin ang boses at na-identify natin ang isang problema na common sa maraming lungsod at maraming bayan dito sa Laguna,” Dimaguila said.
The legislator also raised concerns about the Laguna Lake Road Network, explaining that while some sections use viaducts supported by posts, others use embankments involving the placement of fill along the lakeshore.
The lawmaker warned that such construction could further reduce the space available to hold floodwaters.
“So ibig sabihin, lalong bababa ang carrying capacity ng Laguna Lake. Kaya kinakailangan natin solusyunan ito agad. Kaya kami naman, sila Speaker, sila SDS, mga Congressman ng Laguna talagang magkakasama kami dito,” he said, adding that the provincial governor had also expressed support for addressing the problem.
Laguna 2nd District Representative Ramil Laurel Hernandez, chairperson of the Special Committee on Southern Tagalog Development, said HR 906 had been approved at the committee level and was awaiting second reading in plenary. Hernandez expressed confidence that support from the House leadership would help move the measure forward.
“With the support of the leadership ay maipasa po ito then everything will follow.”
“Of course, with the support of the leadership ay maipasa po ito then everything will follow. Ang kailangan lang ay matapos po sa Kongreso,” the legislator said.
HR 906 urges the concerned national agencies and the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) to adopt and implement an integrated flood mitigation and management plan anchored on the LLDA’s updated Comprehensive Master Development Plan. Its authors include Hernandez, Dimaguila, Santa Rosa City Lone District Representative Roy Gonzales, Calamba City Lone District Representative Charisse Anne “Cha” Hernandez, and Laguna 1st District Representative Ann Matibag.
The resolution seeks to coordinate flood control infrastructure, targeted dredging and watershed rehabilitation so that these interventions work together to protect lakeside communities in the province.
Among its proposed actions are a new survey of the lake’s depth and water-holding capacity, science-based dredging of river mouths and key tributaries, and reforestation and erosion control to prevent sediment from quickly accumulating again. It also calls for an independent technical evaluation of the Parañaque Spillway Project and the commencement of its detailed engineering design to advance an additional outlet for excess lake water to Manila Bay.
The resolution also seeks a displacement and livelihood restoration plan for fisherfolk affected by major infrastructure projects, alongside quarterly progress reports from participating agencies to the Special Committee on Southern Tagalog Development.
The discussion at the sixth LegisHear consultation, hosted by Rep. Cha Hernandez, connected residents’ flooding concerns with the proposed coordinated response under HR 906, with lawmakers stressing the need to move the measure forward and sustain cooperation across government.
