Dr. Mahar Lagmay with QCDRRMO Chief Maria Bianca Perez and Associate Architect of Palafox Associates Ryan Chai Cabaรฑez,
with the panel of experts from DILG, QC LGU, PICE, and Embassy of the Netherlands in the Philippines
November 18, 2025
Diliman, Quezon City
The UP Resilience Institute participated in the 2025 QC Flood Summit held on November 18 at the M.I.C.E Center, Quezon City Hall Compound, with the theme โRising Above Floods: Building Resilient Cities.โ
UP RI Executive Director Dr. Alfredo Mahar Lagmay served as one of the panelists in the plenary session โConcrete, Green, and Grounded: Turning Flood Plans into Actionโ together with a distinguished panel of resource persons, including Atty. Jesi Howard Lanete of DILG, Atty. Mark Dale Perral of QC, Engr. Frederick Sison of PICE, , and Franco Neal Rebater of Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Quezon City Flood Summit 2025 Session 2
Moderators and Panel of Experts
During the plenary session โConcrete, Green, and Grounded: Turning Flood Plans into Action,โ UPRI highlighted the importance of basin-wide (watershed) approach to planning and inter-LGU coordination, treating upstream, midstream, and downstream areas as an interconnected system. The panel also explored the balance between nature-based and structural solutions, emphasizing watershed rehabilitation, river restoration, floodplain protection, and green infrastructure as foundational strategies to flood management.
Responding to the panelโs question about striking the balance between structural and nature-based solutions, Dr. Lagmay explained that cities should build with nature first: rehabilitate watersheds, restore rivers, protect floodplains, and expand green spaces, before resorting to large-scale concrete interventions. Staying true to UP RIโs long-standing advocacy, he emphasized that real sustainable flood management solutions begin with restoring and protecting our natural systems, with concrete solutions being the last resort.
Dr. Mahar Lagmay during Session 2 of the QC Flood Summit 2025, participating in a discussion with distinguished panelists and resource persons.
UP Resilience Institute and NOAH Center set up a booth to promote the NOAH website facilitated by NOAH WebGIS developers Mr. Fritz Andal and Mr. Kenneth Liporada
Dr. Mahar Lagmay converses with a participant of the QC Flood Summit 2025
Dr. Mahar Lagmay with ABS-CBN Resident Meteorologist and Weather Anchor Ariel Rojas
The QC Flood Summit reinforced a shared commitment to science-based, transparent, collaborative, and long-term resilience for Quezon City and Metro Manila.
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