Manila: Senator Imee Marcos has made a compelling case for the inclusion of green infrastructure funding in the Philippines’ 2025 budget, emphasizing its critical role in addressing the nation’s persistent typhoon and flooding challenges.
According to Philippines News Agency, Marcos proposed straightforward, community-based solutions to enhance disaster resilience. These include expanding mangrove forests, planting the indigenous bamboo species known as ‘bayog,’ and using gabions along riverbanks. These measures, she suggested, could offer effective, localized responses to natural disasters.
In a news release, Marcos underscored the limitations of traditional “gray infrastructure,” advocating instead for innovative approaches such as replacing cement with permeable materials and developing a pilot “sponge city” model. This concept, inspired by initiatives in China and India, aims to absorb heavy rainfall and mitigate flooding.
Marcos highlighted the environmental urgency, noting, “The climate is deteriora
ting at a faster rate than anyone expected, it’s time to fund green spaces even in urbanized zones.” She pointed out the potential long-term savings of investing in solutions like vertical parks, rooftop gardens, and void decks, despite the high initial costs of projects like underground cisterns.
With an infrastructure budget of PHP1.28 trillion slated for 2025, Marcos stressed the need to prioritize green infrastructure over traditional concrete structures. Citing the Philippines’ vulnerability to disasters, as recognized by the United Nations, she argued that these investments are crucial to protecting lives, businesses, and homes from the increasing threat of climate change.