BACOLOD CITY – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., together with Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon, inspected this highly-urbanized city’s ‘’Oplan: Kontra Baha’’ project on Friday, Dec. 12.

The President visited Mambuloc Creek in Barangay 2 to observe dredging and clearing operations conducted by the DPWH.

The initiative launched on Dec. 5 by Bacolod Rep. Albee Benitez and Mayor Greg Gasataya seeks to clear heavily silted, clogged, and obstructed waterways to address flooding that began in October.

The project, which runs until June 2026, forms the immediate phase of DPWH’s interventions and focuses on dredging, declogging, clearing, and regular maintenance of rivers and creeks across the city.

The program covers 30,785.69 cubic meters of drainage systems spanning 116.734 kilometers on national roads and 21.537 kilometers on local roads.

It also involves nine major rivers, creeks, and esteros with a combined volume of 2,175,223.11 cubic meters and a total length of 169.447 kilometers – Banago Creek, Mandalagan River, Mambuloc Creek, Maupay Creek, Lupit River, Magsungay River, Tangub Creek, Pahanocoy Creek, and Sum-ag River – in multiple barangays.

Key challenges identified include clogged drainage systems, poor stormwater flow, siltation, obstructive structures, and inadequate waste management.

Proposed solutions involve clearing blockages using vacuum sewer jet cleaners, continuous dredging and declogging, removing illegal structures, and enforcing stricter waste management and garbage collection schedules.

Establishments will also be required to connect to sewage treatment plants before discharging wastewater.

A total of 3,000 river warriors under the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) TUPAD emergency employment program had been deployed for the massive cleanup.

While the initiative is vital, it remains a short-term measure as long-term flood mitigation plans are still being finalized, according to Benitez.