PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and other concerned agencies 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 program to improve water flow and minimize flooding in vulnerable communities.
Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said the DPWH remains on full alert and is continuously carrying out anti-flood operations, especially in low-lying and flood-prone areas.
Dizon assured the public that clearing and dredging activities will continue without interruption as part of the administration’s preparations for the rainy months.
He said the government is 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 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.
In the Bicol Region, Naga City remains under close monitoring because of its history of severe flooding during prolonged rains.
The anti-flood campaign has also been expanded in Visayas, particularly in Cebu, Iloilo and Bacolod, where flooding has repeatedly disrupted communities and businesses.
In Mindanao, the government has prioritized Cagayan de Oro and Maguindanao, areas that have suffered from devastating floods in recent years.
The Marcos administration said aggressive flood prevention measures are necessary to protect lives, properties and livelihoods as the country braces for another rainy season.
