PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday led the launch of the Oplan Kontra Baha waterways clearing and cleaning operations in Metro Cebu aimed at preventing flooding during next year’s rainy season.
The President inspected the ongoing dredging and cleaning operations at Mahiga Creek in Mandaue City, while simultaneous operations are conducted at the Butuanon River and Subangdaku River in Mandaue City; Arrabal/Kinalumsan River, Guadalupe River and Kamputhaw River in Cebu City; Mananga River in Talisay City; and Cotcot River in Liloan municipality.
President Marcos urged residents to closely monitor the progress of the waterways clearing and cleaning operations until August next year.
“Ang pangako sa atin, one year. So, ang pangako sa akin, ‘pagka umulan ulit, hindi na magbabaha,” the President said during the inspection.
“So, mga nine months na trabaho bago dadating ulit ang ulan. Hopefully by that time hindi na tayo makakakita ng baha kagaya ng nakita natin noon dahil lahat ng nakaharang, lahat ng barado na labasan ng tubig ay lilinisin at hindi na mababara. May dadaanan na ‘yung tubig palabas,” the President added.
President Marcos emphasized the need for close coordination among the national and local governments and the private sector for the program’s success.
The Chief Executive also said experts will be consulted on where to build sabo dams to control water flow and mitigate flooding.
The President launched the Oplan Kontra Baha waterways cleaning project in Metro Manila last November 12.
“As I promised when we started the project in Metro Manila, 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,” the President said.
The Oplan Kontra Baha: Metro Cebu Waterways Clearing and Cleaning Operations project is a multi-sectoral partnership that aims to reduce siltation in major waterways to restore their water flow capacity to mitigate flooding.
To be undertaken within nine months or from November this year to August next year, the project involves de-clogging drainage systems, dredging and cleaning waterways, clearing obstructions, and managing waste, to be undertaken within nine months.
The project aims to clean up eight priority waterways in Metro Cebu spanning 161 kilometers of rivers, creeks, and esteros, and 212 kilometers of the drainage system.
The DPWH will lead the project’s implementation, in coordination with partners from the public and private sectors, such as Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), National Housing Authority (NHA), and Metropolitan Cebu Development and Coordinating Board.
The support offices are the Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR), Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor, Philippine Ports Authority, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Maritime Industry Authority, Navy Engineers, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Reservists, Philippine National Police (PNP) Mobile Force, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Auxiliary, and the Provincial Government of Cebu.
Support from the private sector comes from San Miguel Corporation, Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, Prime-Infra, Ayala Corporation, Aboitiz Group, and SM Corporation.
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