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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DPWH clears Rio Grande de Mindanao choke point ahead of rainy season

DPWH clears Rio Grande de Mindanao choke point ahead of rainy season

Published Mar 5, 2026 12:50 pm

At A Glance

  • DPWH launches dredging drive in Mindanao to clear Rio Grande de Mindanao choke point.
  • Cutter suction dredge now operating in Buluan, Maguindanao, targeting silt and water hyacinths.
  • Nine additional heavy equipment units deployed to support river clearing.
  • Local governments and partner agencies assist in dredging a 22-kilometer stretch of the river.
(Photo courtesy of DPWH)
(Photo courtesy of DPWH)
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has launched a dredging drive in Mindanao to clear a critical Rio Grande de Mindanao choke point in preparation for the rainy season.
DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said the operation aims to speed up the rehabilitation of key waterways and improve flood preparedness.
A cutter suction dredge with a vegetation cutter assembly has arrived at Polloc Port via a Philippine Navy vessel.
The equipment is now operating in Buluan, Maguindanao, targeting river sections heavily clogged with silt and water hyacinths.
It will remove thick mud deposits and invasive vegetation that have been blocking waterways and worsening floods in nearby communities.
The operation follows massive flooding in August 2025 that forced the evacuation of over 3,800 families and patients from Buluan District Hospital when the Alip River overflowed.
Authorities identified the mouth of the Rio Grande de Mindanao as a critical choke point where sediment buildup and vegetation restrict the river’s natural flow during heavy rains.
DPWH Regional Director Cayamobao D. Dia confirmed the deployment of nine additional heavy equipment units in Buluan, including four amphibious excavators, three front-end loaders, and two other excavators to support the river clearing operations.
The nine-month flood control operation will focus on Mindanao, building on previous Oplan Kontra Baha initiatives in Manila, Cebu, and Bacolod.
Local governments and partner agencies, including the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), will assist in dredging a 22-kilometer stretch of the Buluan River.

Related Tags

dpwh Rio Grande de Mindanao flood control dredging operations Mindanao oplan kontra baha
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