Oplan Kontra Baha boosts flood defense

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

Rivers, creeks, esteros, canals and drainage networks across Iloilo City are undergoing restoration works following the launch of the national government’s Oplan Kontra Baha, which aims to strengthen flood defenses ahead of the rainy season.

Dredging operations formally began April 13 at Rizal Creek in Barangay Rizal, La Paz, a waterway considered critical to the city’s drainage system.

Rizal Creek has long been associated with informal settler communities, which are often targeted for relocation as part of waterway rehabilitation efforts.

These informal settlements along the creek have been prioritized for clearing to enable dredging and greening projects under the city’s 2021–2029 Comprehensive Land Use Plan.

The Oplan Kontra Baha program in Iloilo City is led by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the city government and the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE) Iloilo Chapter, headed by Engr. Mavi Gustilo, who also chairs the Iloilo City Drainage Task Force.

“This initiative of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., being implemented by the [DPWH] under the leadership of Secretary Vince Dizon, aims to strengthen the city’s defenses against possible flooding during the upcoming rainy season through the declogging and desilting of waterways,” DPWH-6 said in a Facebook post.

The PICE-Iloilo Chapter said the extensive rehabilitation effort is a proactive move to reinforce flood defenses.

“The primary objective of this vital undertaking was to significantly mitigate the risk of severe localized flooding and systematically improve the maximum flow capacity of existing, heavily silted waterways that serve as the essential drainage arteries for Iloilo City,” the organization said.

Similar dredging operations are scheduled in Barangay Cubay in Jaro and Barangay Taft North in Mandurriao, both identified as flood-prone areas during heavy rains.

DPWH-6 said Oplan Kontra Baha is also ongoing at the Batiano River, where clearing and desilting operations are being carried out to remove accumulated silt and garbage.

The Batiano River spans 17.5 kilometers, originating from Barangay Santa Clara in Oton to Barangay Villa Alegre in Molo before emptying into the Iloilo Strait.

Authorities said the Batiano River, considered a river basin, receives pollution from agricultural runoff, domestic waste from residential and commercial areas, industrial discharges and small- to medium-scale piggeries.

DPWH-6 said that with the use of an amphibious excavator and the participation of the Oton local government, the operation has reached 67.20 percent completion as of Tuesday, April 28.

The agency added that the program will continue and expand to other parts of Iloilo and Capiz this year, as part of broader efforts to mitigate flooding in Western Visayas, which is frequently affected by heavy rains and typhoons.