DPWH Secretary Manny Bonoan rightly identifies poor urban planning and ineffective waste management as major causes of flooding not just in Metro Manila, but across the country. But let’s dig deeper—how exactly does urban planning play into this?

Our government has allowed subdivisions to sprout up in highly vulnerable areas—near coastlines, on mountaintops, and in river valleys—where rainwater naturally flows towards the sea. Picture this: subdivisions blocking the natural water pathways. Yes, they may have drainage systems, but ask the thousands of residents in Villar real estate properties in Las Piñas, and you’ll hear about severe, days-long flooding.

Las Piñas has been experiencing flooding, particularly within Villar-built subdivisions, since the 1990s—decades before any reclamation activity in the Manila Bay area.

Even more alarming is the conversion of former rice fields into subdivisions, a fact admitted by Senator Cynthia Villar herself. This is the same family that made it to Forbes’ list of billionaires by selling homes in high-risk areas like bay shores, mountaintops, flood plains, and river valleys. Recall the public spat between Villar and Senator Raffy Tulfo over this issue?

While it might be legal to build communities in these areas if permitted by the government, legality doesn’t equate to morality. We must uphold moral responsibility in our urban planning decisions. Real estate developers wield immense power to shape our urban landscape, and their decisions have far-reaching consequences. They must act with circumspection and prioritize the long-term well-being of the community over immediate profits.

Moreover, those who have amassed wealth through these ventures should refrain from deflecting blame onto competitors when faced with flooding issues in their own developments. It’s a tactic that’s both transparent and unconstructive.

Let’s not forget, Senator Villar is running for mayor in Las Piñas, with plans for her daughter, Congresswoman Camille, to take her Senate seat. It seems the Senate will continue to be a Villar family affair. Additionally, Villar’s Primewater company has faced numerous complaints from citizens in its franchise areas, further highlighting the need for accountability and responsible leadership in all sectors.

Jesus once told the Sadducees and the Pharisees this: ” Those who think themselves as clean and without sin, please cast the first stone.” Seems like in Madame Senator Cynthia Villar’s case, she immediately threw the stone without even understanding what the Redeemer said.