MANILA, Philippines — As the country enters the final week of May, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and other concerned agencies of the government to intensify flood mitigation measures ahead of the expected onset of the rainy season in July.
Marcos specifically directed the DPWH to speed up clearing and dredging operations in creeks, rivers, esteros, and drainage canals nationwide.
The President also ordered the continued widening of waterways under the government’s Oplan Kontra Baha (OKB) program to improve water flow and minimize flooding in vulnerable communities.
Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said the DPWH remained on full alert and was continuously carrying out anti-flood operations, especially in low-lying and flood-prone areas.
Dizon assured the public that clearing and dredging activities would continue without interruption as part of the administration’s preparations for the rainy months.
He said the government was determined to reduce the severe flooding that regularly affects many parts of the country during heavy rains and typhoons.
Among the priority areas under Oplan Kontra Baha are Metro Manila, where clogged waterways and urban congestion worsen flooding during strong downpours.
The DPWH is also focusing on the Ilocos Region and Cagayan Valley, areas frequently battered by heavy rains and overflowing rivers during the monsoon season.
Flood-prone provinces in Central Luzon, including Tarlac, are likewise undergoing intensified clearing and desilting operations.
