A River Channel Under the Spotlight
GENERAL SANTOS CITY - The Makar River became one of the areas of concern after heavy rains brought flooding to several communities in General Santos City in July. Reports at the time documented flooding in Labangal and areas around Puting Bato, with residents evacuated as water rose in low-lying communities. Against that backdrop, DPWH Region XII’s clearing operation near Makar Bridge II is a practical response focused on the river itself. The agency’s work involves removing material from the channel to help restore a clearer waterway. A separate August 2026 report also confirmed that DPWH had begun dredging the Makar River in Barangay Labangal following the flooding.
More Room for Water to Move
River clearing may sound straightforward, but the condition of a channel can matter greatly when substantial rainfall sends large volumes of water downstream. The July flooding showed how quickly water can affect communities around the Makar River and connected waterways. By clearing sections near Makar Bridge II, DPWH is addressing the physical condition of the channel rather than simply responding after floodwaters have already entered neighborhoods. The operation covers areas around Labangal and Upper Puting Bato, bringing attention to a part of the city where waterways and communities are closely connected. The goal is practical: keep the channel open and improve the movement of water through the affected section.
Part of a Bigger Flood-Control Picture
The Makar River clearing also fits into a broader flood-management effort in General Santos City. DPWH records show that the agency has infrastructure projects involving the Makar River, including concrete revetment work downstream of the Upper Makar Bridge. In August 2026, the Palace also said DPWH would pursue a river-basin approach to flood-risk reduction, emphasizing that flood-control measures should consider the characteristics of individual waterways and their surrounding areas. The current clearing operation therefore offers a useful, immediate complement to longer-term infrastructure projects: while permanent structures address riverbanks and protection, channel maintenance deals directly with the waterway’s condition after a damaging flood.
