The government has revised its approach to the worsening flood problem, favoring a massive multi-agency cleanup and dredging campaign to clear Metro Manila’s waterways and drainage systems rather than building costly infrastructure that is a magnet for corruption.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. expects the program launched on Wednesday to reduce flooding in the capital region by up to 60 percent next year.

The President led the launch of Oplan Kontra Baha: Greater Metro Manila Waterways Clearing and Cleaning Operations at Balihatar Creek in Barangay San Dionisio, Parañaque City.

Simultaneous activities were held in Meycauayan City, Bulacan; Tondo, Manila; Quezon City, and Las Piñas City, where the clearing of major rivers and creeks was also started.

“I am very optimistic that once we get the majority of this done, we will immediately feel that by the time the rainy season comes next year, flooding will be greatly reduced,” Marcos said as he inspected the dredging operations.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) spearhead the project which will run from November 2025 to July 2026.

It will cover 142.4 kilometers of rivers, creeks, and esteros, and 333.15 kilometers of drainage systems across the metropolis.

“Oplan Kontra Baha” brings together national government agencies, local government units, and private sector partners to restore the full water-carrying capacity of clogged and silted waterways that have contributed to the recurrent flash floods.

Marcos noted that improper waste disposal, siltation, and poorly placed infrastructure have worsened the flooding in recent years.

“We will continue this first phase of Oplan until July next year, about nine months. Even after that, regular cleaning, desiltation, and garbage clearing will continue,” he said.

Pumping stations

The President also pointed out the need to correct the placement of several pumping stations, some of which inadvertently obstruct the flow of water.

He lamented that many of the pumping stations have not worked since they were built because they block the water rather than drain it.

Marcos said that once the initial phase in Metro Manila is completed, Oplan Kontra Baha will be expanded to other flood-prone places, including Cebu, Bacolod, Roxas City, Bulacan, Pampanga, Cavite, Laguna, Pangasinan, Cotabato, Davao and Cagayan de Oro.

“It’s the beginning of an extensive program to at least partially solve the problem of flooding, especially in the urban areas, especially in Metro Manila and the other highly urbanized cities and provinces,” he said.

Silted 10-feet

Currently, waterways are silted about three meters (10 feet). The initial implementation of the program will last nine months, ending in June or July next year.

“After those nine months, we will continue cleaning, desilting, and cleaning up the garbage regularly. We will continue to do all of this. We cannot stop because we know that it will continue to accumulate,” Marcos said.

The clearing and cleaning operations began in Balihatar Creek in Parañaque City, and were simultaneously launched in Caingin Creek in Meycauayan City, Sunog Apog Pumping Station in Tondo, Manila; San Juan River in Quezon City, and Las Piñas River in Las Piñas City.

Experts say this initiative will reduce flooding by 60 percent.

Private involvement needed

The President emphasized the private sector’s cooperation, particularly those that have the capacity to boost desilting operations.

“It’s good that MVP (businessman Manuel V. Pangilinan) is here with us. This is why we always say that we really need the private sector because they are the ones who help and move quickly,” he said.

“Of course, they have to do this in coordination with our local government executives. And we know that when local government executives saw that there was a project like this, they immediately agreed because, of course, they don’t want floods,” he said.

“So, the integration of the private sector, the LGUs, and the national government is a big help. The national government alone can’t do it; the LGU alone can’t do it. The private sector, the businessmen, they can’t do it alone,” he said.

“[This] is something that has been proposed for a very long time but somehow has never been implemented, and we are doing it now,” the President said.