Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo on Thursday lauded the Marcos administration for sustaining flood mitigation efforts in the city after the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) committed to continue desilting and waterway clearing operations under the Oplan Kontra Baha program.
During an inspection of desilting activities along with DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon, Robredo welcomed the additional heavy equipment deployed by the DPWH, saying it would significantly strengthen the city’s capability to clear waterways that have become heavily silted over the years.
“With this equipment, this is a huge help to prevent flooding. We can already see the water moving again even with only a small portion cleared. We are hopeful this will reduce flooding in downstream communities that are frequently affected whenever heavy rains occur,” she said.
Robredo added that several smaller waterways remained difficult to restore because accumulated soil had hardened despite previous manual clearing efforts by the City Engineering Office and the DPWH Third District Engineering Office.
DPWH earlier provided eight heavy equipment units this year to support desilting operations in major waterways, including the Bicol River, Naga River and Sagop River, allowing continuous clearing activities in critical river systems.
Naga City is among the flood-prone areas in Camarines Sur, prompting the city government and the DPWH to continuously conduct desilting and waterway clearing to improve water flow and reduce flooding during heavy rains.
Robredo said regular desilting remains necessary because sediments naturally accumulate over time, making continuous maintenance essential to keep waterways clear.
“We have backhoes, but they can only perform desilting from land. There are areas they simply cannot reach. The amphibious equipment will greatly improve our capability to maintain waterways,” she said.
Dizon, on the other hand, said the agency is intensifying flood control operations nationwide to ensure communities are better prepared before the onset of stronger typhoons.
“I just want to make sure that while stronger typhoons have not yet become more frequent, we are ready,” the DPWH chief said. “We will continue this effort nationwide.”
He said sustained and properly implemented flood mitigation projects are already yielding results, citing visible improvements in flood-prone areas in Metro Manila where floodwaters now subside faster than in previous years.
“There is no overnight solution to flooding,” Dizon said. “What is important is that we continue doing the work properly because sustained efforts produce lasting results.”
He assured Robredo that the national government’s commitment to Oplan Kontra Baha would continue in Naga and other local government units.
“That is our commitment to Mayor Leni, and that is the commitment of our President to the entire country,” he added. (PNA)
