President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. sees that flooding in Cebu and other urban centers will be eased through his administration’s newly launched Oplan Kontra Baha program within a year. 

The program’s kickoff took place at Mahiga Creek near the M. Logarta Bridge, spanning Mandaue and Cebu City. 

During the event, the President observed ongoing activities including dredging, waste removal, clearing of waterways, and removal of illegal structures aimed at restoring natural water flow and reducing flood risks.

Marcos explained that Oplan Kontra Baha will take about nine months to complete, aiming to ensure that waterways remain clear and that flooding is prevented during future heavy rains. 

“Ang projection natin – ang pangako sa atin, one year. So, ang pangako sa akin, ‘pagka umulan ulit, hindi na magbabaha (Our projection is after a year; the promise is that when it rains, flooding will no longer occur),” he said. 

Mahiga Creek is part of the nearly 12-kilometer Subangdaku–Mahiga River system, a critical waterway running through Cebu City’s urban core and surrounding barangays. 

The river frequently overflows during heavy rains due to silt buildup and accumulated waste, particularly around the Subangdaku Bridge.

Marcos emphasized that many waterways in Cebu have not been cleaned for decades. 

The President also highlighted the involvement of multiple stakeholders, noting that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), local government units, and private partners like San Miguel Corporation and Metro Pacific have collectively deployed 287 heavy machinery units for the project.

Beyond dredging and clearing, Marcos said the program also includes the construction of Sabo Dams. These small dams that control the flow of water from upstream areas to reduce damage from rapid water surges.

“Nandito ‘yung ating mga hydrologist, ating mga expert, sila magsasabi sa atin kung saan ang pinakamagandang lugar para ilagay lahat ‘yan (Our hydrologists and experts will determine the best locations for all of these),” he noted

“So, that is what we are trying to do. This is what we are attempting to start now. Patuloy pa rin ito. Hindi lang for the next nine months ito. Kahit matapos na ‘yung trabaho, babalikan ulit ‘yan dahil magkakaroon ulit ng siltation, kailangan kunin ulit ‘yan,” he added. 

Marcos likewise noted that periodic maintenance will be necessary to sustain the effectiveness of the waterways, noting that similar programs will expand to other urban centers that have suffered severe flooding in recent years.

“This is the project that we are initiating. As I promised when we opened the – we started the project in Metro Manila that we will not only go to Metro Manila but we will go to all the urban centers and all of those areas that have suffered severe flooding in the last rains,” he said.