Flooding brings Metro traffic to a standstill, and unlike potholes or roadblocks, you can’t just reroute around rising water. Once major roads go under, everything grinds to a halt.

Solving this can’t fall on one agency alone. How we manage waste, water, and even day-to-day habits all play a part in whether communities stay dry or go underwater.

That’s why NLEX Corporation kicked off the Inter-agency Flood Mitigation Forum 2025, to get everyone in one room, from city officials to national agencies, and talk about how to actually fix the problem, together.

The forum brought together representatives from the cities of Quezon, Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela, Manila, Meycauayan, the municipalities of Obando and Marilao, and the Bulacan Provincial Government with partner government agencies, the DILG, Office of Civil Defense, MMDA, DENR, DPWH, DoTr and TRB, and experts from UP’s National Hydraulic Research Center and AMH Philippines.

“The flooding issue is a difficult challenge, and we, at NLEX Corp., are mindful of our responsibility to operate and maintain our expressways to ensure the unhampered flow of people and goods. That’s why we brought together our partner agencies and LGUs to find real, workable solutions to flooding in our communities,” said Jennifer Jane Go, NLEX VP for Asset Management.

Through constructive discussion, they identified that solid waste significantly contributes to flooding, and maintaining clean waterways is one of the most immediate and effective solutions.

AMH Philippines stressed the need for cooperation among LGUs, pointing out that stormwater flows across boundaries and requires a harmonized approach to flood control.

Marilao Municipal Administrator Froilan Angeles underscored the role of bayanihan in addressing the issue. “Ang basura ang isa sa dahilan ng pagbaha. Matagal na po natin itong gustong ma-address pero kailangan ang full cooperation at participation ng lahat,” he said.

Other LGUs also shared their struggles in maintaining clean waterways. The forum enabled participants to exchange ideas, offer real-time feedback, and explore joint solutions prioritizing sustainability.

Among the pledged support are the installation of trash traps and the deployment of additional Estero rangers from the DENR and closer coordination and monitoring with concerned barangays through the DILG.

Engineer Joselito Cantillon of Valenzuela City Flood Control Division also suggested long-term solutions to address the issue. “Mag-invest sa heavy equipment kagaya ng para sa dredging. Pwede ring tumulong si DPWH na mag-design ng river wall at maglagay ng port area para daanan ng heavy equipment. Reviewing city ordinances would also help,” Cantillon said.

The forum was filled with insightful ideas. Roderick Tongol, head of Malabon Disaster Risk Reduction Management, expressed his appreciation for the event. “Nagpapasalamat po kami sa forum na ito dahil itong issue na sinusubukan nating i-solve ay hindi kayang solusyonan ng isang city lang. Kailangan talaga na magsama-sama lahat ang mga lugar na apektado nito,” he said.

“We share the same environment. Kung ano ang makakaapekto sa Malabon, sa Caloocan, sa Valenzuela, ay makakaapekto rin sa amin. This forum allows us to strengthen our partnership and look for best practices to come up with solutions. Maaaring may solution na sila na maaaring i-implement sa amin, at ‘yong solution namin ay maaari rin nilang magamit,” said Dr. Vonne Villanueva, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management officer of Navotas City.

By the end of the forum, participants pledged to clean waterways before the onset of the rainy season and committed to share information with their communities and work closely with LGUs and relevant agencies for effective implementation.

The Inter-agency Flood Mitigation Forum 2025 is an initial step towards a broader plan for crafting and executing sustainable solutions. Participants will reconvene to track progress and refine the next phases of implementation.

NLEX Corporation is a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation, the toll road arm of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation.