ILOILO — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region VI is intensifying its “Oplan Kontra Baha” initiative, a comprehensive anti‑flood campaign designed to protect Western Visayas communities from the perennial threat of flooding. The program combines heavy machinery, local labor, and inter‑agency coordination to keep waterways clear as the rainy season intensifies.
Heavy Machinery and Community Hands
The initiative deploys amphibious excavators, backhoes, and dredging units to deepen and widen critical river channels that have been choked by years of silt and debris. These heavy engineering efforts are complemented by an expanded workforce hired through the Department of Labor and Employment’s TUPAD program. Local “River Warriors” are now working 31‑day stints—an increase from the previous 10‑day period—to manually declog neighborhood canals and remove solid waste.
Workers receive personal protective equipment such as rubber boots and gloves, ensuring their safety while they tackle garbage‑clogged creeks. The partnership between DPWH, DOLE, and local government units like Iloilo City under Mayor Raisa Treñas ensures both immediate cleanup and sustained maintenance. This dual approach of mechanical dredging and community‑based clearing targets blockages at every level of the drainage network.
Progress in Key Waterways
The program has already posted significant results across its priority areas. Declogging of regional street drains and culverts has reached 99.71 percent completion, while large‑scale desilting of the Iloilo‑Batiano River system has hit 96.76 percent. Work on the Tigum River, particularly around Barangay Ticud in La Paz, has progressed to 64.90 percent as crews continue to extract accumulated mud and refuse.
These waterways are vital to the region’s flood control. The Iloilo‑Batiano River spans urban and suburban communities, and its improved flow capacity directly reduces the risk of overflow during heavy downpours. The ongoing progress on the Tigum River is also crucial, as it serves as a primary drainage channel for several low‑lying districts.
A Proactive Push Before the Rains
Unlike temporary, reactive cleanups, Oplan Konta Baha is built as a continuous, year‑round operation that intensifies ahead of the wet season. The national government, under directives from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., has prioritized strengthening disaster resilience through infrastructure maintenance. By combining resources from multiple agencies and the private sector, the campaign addresses flooding at its root cause rather than merely responding to emergencies.
The DPWH, with support from the Office of Civil Defense and organizations like the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers, is also upgrading drainage infrastructure alongside the desilting drives. This holistic strategy aims to prevent the kind of urban flooding that disrupts daily life and damages property. The program represents a clear commitment to safeguarding communities long before the next storm arrives.
