SENATE Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano has challenged young people in Bulacan to take an active role in addressing recurring flooding and shaping the future of their communities.

Speaking at the Councils of Bishops and Ministers Association of the Philippines Inc. (CBMAP) Youth Conference, Cayetano urged the young participants to envision a Bulacan that future generations would not have to inherit with the same flooding problems.

“Alam ng Diyos ang paraan pero may kapangyarihan sa inyong mga bibig. Sabihin ninyo, ‘Lord, hindi mo ipamamana sa akin ang isang Bulacan na bahain,’” Cayetano told the youth.

Cayetano cited Taguig’s experience to illustrate how communities can overcome long-standing challenges.

He recalled that in the 1990s, when he was 20 years old, about one-third of Taguig would experience flooding during the rainy season, long before the city became known for major developments such as Bonifacio Global City and Arca South.

“Alam ninyo kung bakit ako nakakapagsalita ng ganito? Noong 1990, I was 20 years old, one-third ng Taguig, kapag umulan ng October hanggang January, binabaha kami,” he said.

The senator also recalled how faith leaders continued to pray for Taguig’s transformation despite lacking engineering expertise, political influence and financial resources.

Cayetano said, however, that prayers must be accompanied by practical solutions, including effective government leadership, engineering interventions and efforts to address corruption.

He encouraged young people to recognize their capacity to help solve problems in their communities, emphasizing that they have a role in determining the conditions future generations will inherit.

Drawing from Taguig’s experience, Cayetano expressed hope that Bulacan’s youth would take an active interest in addressing the province’s persistent flooding and other challenges.

“Young people, nasa kamay ninyo ang future ng inyong mga lugar, lalo po dito sa lalawigan ng Bulacan,” Cayetano said.