Provincial government discuss AGOS program to prevent flooding in Bataan

The provincial government has conducted a meeting to discuss the Active Governance to Optimize Streamways (AGOS) Program at The Bunker in Balanga City on 10 September 2026, to prevent flooding in several areas in the province of Bataan.

According to the provincial government, the said discussion is in response to the recent flooding that affected several areas in the province and to help prevent similar incidents in the future. Officials from the provincial government and concerned departments were in attendance at the meeting.

The AGOS Program was discussed along with experts from the Engineering and Development Corporation of the Philippines (EDCOP) and representatives from the three District Engineering Offices of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Bataan.

According to the provincial government, the AGOS program is a three-year initiative designed to restore the capacity of the province's rivers, canals, and drainage systems, improve water quality, strengthen disaster resilience, and support agricultural productivity through better irrigation.

It covers key components such as river and canal dredging, flood control and drainage improvement, waterway clearing, community awareness, and long-term monitoring and sustainability. The program is expected to benefit Bataeños living in low-lying areas across the province's 11 municipalities and lone city, and complements ongoing national efforts such as Oplan Kontra Baha.

During the meeting, Engineer Noel M. Ortigas of EDCOP presented an assessment of Bataan's flood-prone rivers, citing data from Project NOAH (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards), and proposed both immediate and long-term interventions, including nature-based solutions that combine flood control with usable public spaces such as walkways and parks along waterways.

Ortigas explained that Bataan's mountainous terrain causes rainwater from its own uplands to rush quickly down steep rivers, carrying heavy debris. He also noted that while Bataan is mostly outside the official Pampanga River Basin, water from that basin still flows through the province, particularly its northeastern towns, before draining into Manila Bay.

The meeting also touched on the proposed Manila Bay Integrated Development Coastal Road, a long-term infrastructure project being studied for its potential to address flooding, connectivity, and other challenges across Bataan, Bulacan, Pampanga, and Metro Manila.

The Provincial Government of Bataan, under the leadership of Gov. Jose Enrique “Joet” Garcia III, will continue to work closely with national agencies and technical experts to finalize the AGOS program and identify practical and near-term solutions to reduce the impact of flooding on Bataeño communities.