President Marcos said dredging operations across major rivers, esteros, and drainage networks in Metro Manila have been effective so far, but noted that more needs to be done.

During his inspection of the high-vacuum self-priming drainage trailer pump in Barangay Zapote, Las Piñas City, on Tuesday, Aug. 11, Marcos said the dredging operations that started this year appeared to have had an effect.

He noted that flooding was not as severe as before, when the water would reach chest level.

"So, effective naman ang ating ginagawa ngunit alam naman natin kulang pa rin ‘yan. Marami pa rin tayong kailangan gawin (So, what we are doing is proving to be effective, but we know that it is still not enough. There is still a lot that we need to do)," Marcos said in an interview during the inspection.

The President further noted that the government had only recently resumed dredging operations after a 12-year moratorium, during which rivers and spillways became increasingly shallow.

Ngunit mukha namang effective yung ating nagawa na, na nasimulan nitong taon na ito. Hindi natin titigilan hanggang matapos ‘yan. Ang dredging talagang walang tigil ‘yan, tuluy-tuloy ‘yan (But what we’ve done so far seems to be effective, especially the work we started this year. We won’t stop until it’s finished. The dredging, in particular, will continue nonstop)," he said.

During the inspection, Marcos witnessed the extraction of water from the Alido River into the Zapote River using the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) deployed drainage pump.

The high-vacuum self-priming drainage trailer pump is aimed at reducing water levels in the Alido River and helping mitigate flooding in surrounding areas.

Marcos said he has instructed the DPWH to revisit the spillway plans which have been stalled for more than 10 years.

The President cited the spillway in Las Piñas which needs to be finished, saying "that plan has been stalled for far too long."

He also underscored that completing the spillway in the city would also address flooding in the National Capital Region (NCR).

"That plan has been in the works for – I don't know, more than 10 years. Pero (But) for some whatever reason, hindi natin nabuo at ngayon kailangan gagawin na natin (we were not able to complete it but now, we really need to)," Marcos added.

"So, I have given instructions to Secretary Vince na tingnan na muna natin, balikan na natin ang mga plano. Tingnan natin kung may kailangang palitan. But whatever it is, kung anong kailangan gawin, kailangan tapusin na natin. Ilagay na natin yung spillway. Malaking, malaking bagay ‘yan para sa pagbabaha ng NCR (to take a look at it first and revisit the plans. Let’s see if there’s anything that needs to be changed. But whatever it is, whatever needs to be done, we need to get it finished. Let’s build the spillway. That would make a huge, huge difference in addressing flooding in the NCR)," Marcos said.

Marcos has called on local government units (LGU), residents, and others involved to be responsible in the disposal of garbage, citing the recent incident where drainage canals were completely filled with garbage amid the heavy rains.

"Ang isa pang issue na nakita natin na nangyari ay yung nagbabaan yung sa Parañaque lalo – ay yung nagbabaan ang basura. Nakita ninyo yung mga picture na punung-puno yung kanal, punung-puno ng basura na hindi naman galing sa Parañaque, galing sa ibang lugar yun (Another issue we noticed was the amount of trash that came down, particularly in Parañaque. You saw the pictures—the drainage canals were completely filled with garbage. And that garbage didn’t even come from Parañaque; it came from other areas)," Marcos said.

"Pero dahil nabuksan na yung ating mga kanal, lahat doon napasok, nasabayan pa ng high tide kaya naipit yung mga basura doon (But because our drainage canals had already been opened, all of that garbage flowed into them, and the high tide made the situation worse, causing the trash to get trapped there)," Marcos added.

"Kaya’t nananawagan kami sa lahat ng involved, ang ating mga local government unit, ang ating lahat ng mamamayang Pilipino, mag-ingat po kayo dahil ang laking pinsala ang nangyayari kapag ‘yung basura natin ay hindi maganda ang pagtapon at dahil kung saan-saan na lang nilalagay (That’s why we are calling on everyone involved, our local government units, and all our fellow Filipinos—to be careful because improper waste disposal and simply throwing garbage wherever we want can cause enormous damage)," the President further said.

He assured the public that the government will continue with its waste-to-energy program, which involves collecting the garbage, processing it, and converting it into electricity.

The Chief Executive emphasized that it will be a very significant development once it is completed.

He also said that the flood-control efforts and related projects, including dredging will continue.

"Pati kasama ang LGU at ang LGU ay nakakasama na rin natin sa dredging at makikita natin ang effect na ito (We are also working together with the LGUs, which are now participating in the dredging efforts, and we can already see the impact)," he said.

"Kaya kahit may baha pa nang kaunti ay malaki ang binawas, hindi na ganoon kalalim, una-una. Pangalawa, mas mabilis mawala yung tubig dahil nga nabuksan na natin ang ating mga kanal (So even though there is still some flooding, the situation has improved significantly. First, the floodwater is no longer as deep. Second, the water recedes much faster because we have already opened up our drainage canals)," he added.