Felino “Jun” Palafox’s Masterplan for Metro Manila: Flood Control, Smart Tunnels, and Climate Resilience

In this episode of The Agenda at Club Filipino, hosted by Atty. Siegfred Mison with Pia Morato, renowned architect and urban planner Felino “Jun” A. Palafox Jr., Founder of Palafox Associates, lays out a comprehensive blueprint to protect Metro Manila from devastating floods.

Palafox presents proven flood control strategies including large-scale river dredging, Laguna Lake rehabilitation, construction of flood gates, innovative smart tunnel projects, rainwater harvesting systems, and elevated roads to safeguard against rising sea levels and land subsidence.

He warns that excessive groundwater extraction is accelerating land subsidence in Manila, increasing flood risks, and stresses the urgent need for land-use reform, strict enforcement of subdivision open space laws, and “patriotic architecture” to bring back disciplined urban planning. Drawing lessons from Tokyo, Singapore, and the Netherlands, Palafox outlines how these global best practices can be adapted for the Philippines to enhance climate change resilience.

The discussion also addresses corruption, altered project specifications, and poor enforcement that have hindered flood control efforts for decades. Palafox advocates for citizen vigilance, multidisciplinary planning, and strong public-private partnerships — citing examples like San Miguel Corporation’s river cleanup and dredging projects led by Ramon Ang.

This is a must-watch for Filipinos concerned about Metro Manila flooding, climate adaptation, and sustainable urban development.