Philippines Advances Drainage and Flood Control Projects in Multiple Areas

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On September 13, the Philippine Department of Public Works and Highways announced the expansion of the "Oplan Kontra Baha" flood control campaign, advancing river clearing, dredging, drainage system rehabilitation, and pump station construction in Metro Manila as well as parts of Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Tarlac, Naga City, the Visayas, and Mindanao. This operation is a new round of flood control project deployment launched after recent storms and the southwest monsoon caused waterlogging in multiple areas, with the implementation scope further expanded from the capital region to several high flood-risk areas.

Philippine Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon stated that the current flood control work includes both short-term clearing and dredging, and will simultaneously advance long-term drainage and pump station projects. Key measures include removing silt from river channels and drainage canals, restoring drainage capacity in low-lying areas, maintaining existing pump stations, and adding new drainage facilities in key flood-prone areas to reduce the risk of waterlogging on urban roads and in residential areas during heavy rainfall.

In Baliwag, Bulacan, the drainage system rehabilitation project along Doña Remedios Trinidad Road is currently under construction. This road had previously experienced repeated waterlogging during heavy rainfall, affecting vehicles, public transportation, and residents along the route. This round of construction focuses on repairing and restoring the road's drainage facilities, improving rainwater discharge capacity, and reducing road flooding caused by short-duration heavy rainfall.

In addition to the Baliwag project, the Department of Public Works and Highways is expanding flood control improvements to Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Tarlac, and Naga City in Camarines Sur, and covering parts of the Visayas and Mindanao. The related projects will implement river dredging, drainage canal restoration, pump station maintenance, and new facility construction according to local flood causes, with a focus on improving drainage capacity in densely populated areas and low-lying urban districts during heavy rains.

This expansion marks the further shift of the Philippines' "Oplan Kontra Baha" from emergency dredging to regional flood control infrastructure improvement. Subsequent construction will focus on urban drainage networks, pump stations, river regulation, and flood-prone road renovation projects, creating sustained demand for drainage pipes, pumping equipment, river dredging equipment, and municipal construction.