GLOBAL GOALS

DPWH clears 1.7M cubic meters of waste from waterways

DPWH is deploying high-capacity mobile pipes that can quickly siphon off rainwater and redirect it away from critical flood zones.

Windsor John Genova · Jul 26, 2026, 11:02 PM

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (3rd from right) and DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon (2nd from right) watch the laying of a 1.5-meter diameter HDPE pipe on a portion of E. Rodriguez Sr. Avenue in Araneta, Quezon City to increase the drainage capacity and reduce flooding in the area. — Photograph by Yummie Dingding for DAILY TRIBUNR

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has cleared more than 1.7 million cubic meters of waste from various waterways and drainages in the country under its Oplan Kontra Baha (OKB) campaign that started in November.

DPWH Undersecretary Charles Calima told participants at the First Stormwater Summit last 21 July in Makati City that the said amount of waste removed to declog waterways is equivalent to 141,670 dump trucks, each with a capacity of 12 cubic meters.

Aside from dredging and clearing operations, Calima said the OKB involves installing high-density polyethylene (HDPE) drainage pipes that can channel massive volume of stormwater through Metro Manila’s main floodway network. The DPWH will be rolling out HDPE pipes across the country to help make flood recede faster, according to Calima.

Also under OKB are ensuring efficient operation of pumping stations and the deployment of high-capacity mobile pumps that can quickly siphon off rainwater and redirect it away from critical flood zones.

“The DPWH is also prioritizing the implementation of retention and detention basins, and cistern systems that will temporarily hold massive volumes of storm water during torrential rains, maximizing limited urban space to prevent street-level flooding before the water is safely channeled away,” Calima added.

The Office of the Presidential Adviser for Sustainable and Resilient Communities headed by Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, co-organized the event with Archipelago Media and Approach Consultancy to strengthen preparedness against flooding.

The summit was an “opportunity to shift our focus towards preparedness, risk-informed planning, innovation, and long-term sustainability for our communities,” she said.

Another speaker at the summit was PUB Consultants Pte. Ltd. or Singapore’s National Water Agency managing director Ryan Yuen, shared Singapore’s integrated water strategy that has effectively mitigated urban flooding in the island country.

April Yang, CEO of Flexi Systems and FloodX, showcased available innovations protecting businesses, facilities and homes, such as cut-off drains, silt fences, specialized systems for treating silty water, and adjustable flood barriers that are designed to fit securely into doorways to stop floodwater from entering homes.