Senator Win Gatchalian has urged the prioritization of infrastructure projects, particularly flood-control measures, that are reviewed and endorsed by Regional Development Councils (RDCs), following the recent devastation brought by Typhoon Basyang in the Visayas and Mindanao.

Speaking during his visit to Iligan City, Gatchalian emphasized that infrastructure must be strategically planned and resilient to withstand increasingly strong typhoons. “We should undertake projects thoroughly scrutinized by RDCs to ensure they are implemented where they are most needed and can endure adverse weather,” he said. He added in Filipino that the intensifying typhoons make it imperative to build strong and reliable infrastructure to protect the most vulnerable communities.

As chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Gatchalian reiterated that infrastructure projects should not be executed solely at the request of politicians. Instead, he stressed that projects lacking RDC endorsement often face implementation problems and risk misusing public funds.

During his visit, Gatchalian also turned over P825,000 in food aid to 29,223 families affected by Typhoon Basyang in Iligan City. The Office of Civil Defense reported at least 12 fatalities and 467,000 people affected across 850 barangays in the Visayas and Mindanao.

This latest typhoon underscores the urgent need for robust, RDC-backed infrastructure to protect communities from increasingly destructive weather events.