President Marcos has launched “Oplan Kontra Baha,” a large-scale dredging and desiltation drive across Metro Cebu’s major waterways, following the massive flooding that submerged many parts of the province during the onslaught of Typhoon Tino early this month,

In his speech during the event on Friday, Nov. 21, the President said decades of neglect left rivers so shallow and clogged that flooding became inevitable.

He added that many local officials could not even recall the last time their rivers were dredged.

“Tinatanong ko sa mga local official kung kailan ang last time na hinukay ito, nilinis ito, wala silang maalala kahit kailan (I asked local officials when these waterways were last dredged, and they couldn’t remember at all),” he said.

The President said the multi-agency team is targeting clear waterways within nine months—before the next rainy season—so future storms will not produce the same flooding as Typhoon Tino.

“Ang pangako sa akin, ‘pagka umulan ulit, hindi na magbabaha (The promise to me is that when it rains again, it will no longer flood),” he said, noting that seven major rivers and creeks across Metro Cebu are set for dredging and declogging under the initial phase of the program.

However, the President said the cleanup required a coordinated mobilization of national agencies, local government units (LGUs), and private partners, saying the government alone could not manage a project of this scale.

According to Marcos, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) deployed 32 units of heavy equipment, LGUs sent 24, while private partners San Miguel and Metro Pacific committed 51 units—the single largest contribution.

“Kailangan matibay ang koordinasyon sa ating local government. Kailangan eh matibay din ang koordinasyon sa private sector (Coordination with LGUs and the private sector must be strong),” he said.

The President said that, under the program, three to five Sabo dams or small structures designed to slow water flow from upland areas will be constructed, noting that during the last major flooding, rapid torrents from the mountains intensified damage.

Even after the desiltation phase is completed, the President said teams will return periodically to manage new silt accumulation.

“Kahit matapos na yung trabaho, babalikan ulit ‘yan… pero hindi na ganito kalaki ang trabaho,” he said (Even after this is completed, we need to return, but the work won’t be as extensive),” he said.

The Cebu initiative follows the model rolled out in Metro Manila early this month, and will soon be replicated in other flood-prone areas. He vowed the cleanup drive would cover all major urban centers that experienced severe flooding in recent storms.

“We will not only go to Metro Manila but… all of those areas that have suffered severe flooding,” he said.

During the program’s launch in Parañaque City, Marcos said Oplan Kontra Baha is just one part of a long-term strategy to mitigate flooding in the country’s major cities.

“This is not an instant solution. We have to do many things,” he said.

The President added that future measures will include relocating faulty pumping stations, rehabilitating watersheds, and building upstream water impounding systems to control water flow during heavy rainfall.

“Once we get the majority of this done, maramdaman na kaagad natin na pagdating ulit ng tag-ulan next year, malaki na ‘yung mababawasan sa flooding (Once most of this is completed, by the next rainy season we’ll already feel a big reduction in flooding),” he said.