Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said on Thursday that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is ramping up flood control efforts ahead of the upcoming rainy season.
According to DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon, the agency has been continuously implementing measures since the start of the year to help ease the burden on communities affected by flooding, in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to minimize the impact of flooding, particularly in flood-prone areas.
“Tuloy tuloy po, ang kabilin-bilinan ni PBBM sa atin nitong simula ng taon kailangan lahat ng pwede nating magawa habang paparating ang tag-ulan gawin an natin. Para kahit papaano naman maibsan naman kahit konti itong mga kababayan natin dahil dito sa pagbaha,” Dizon emphasized.
Among the agency’s ongoing preparations is the improvement of the drainage system under the G. Araneta Drainage Improvement Project along E. Rodriguez Sr. Avenue in Quezon City, which President Marcos inspected on Wednesday, May 20.
Dizon said the project, which began in January 2026, is expected to be completed by next week.
“Siguro by next week tapos na po ‘yung ating drainage improvement na tinimes 3 natin ‘yung laki ng ating mga drainage dati napakaliit ng mga drainage lang,” he noted.
Aside from upgrading the drainage system, the DPWH has also conducted dredging operations along the San Juan River and deployed mobile pumping units to help prevent flooding in the area.
Dizon explained that floodwaters in the area rise rapidly even during moderate rainfall.
However, the DPWH chief stressed that these interventions may still not be enough in the event of extreme weather conditions similar to Severe Tropical Storm Ondoy.
He said additional flood mitigation projects, including the construction of detention basins, are necessary to manage excess floodwater.
“Ipinapaliwanag nga po natin kay Pangulo na hindi lang iisa ang solusyon sa baha. Sabay-sabay po dapat ginagawa ‘yan. ‘Yung pag-improve ng drainage, ‘yung pagdedredge, paglilinis ng basura tapos ‘yung mobile pump para po mabilis na ilabas ng bomba ‘yung tubig na nasa kalye,” Dizon said.
He added that the DPWH is coordinating with Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte in identifying possible sites for detention basins, which will temporarily store water before it flows into the San Juan River.
“Naghahanap tayo ng sinasabi nila detention pad or detention basin, ‘yung pag-iimbakan ng tubig na imbes na lahat ay pumupunta sa San Juan River ay mayroon munang temporrary na pag-iimbakan napupuntahan yung tubig na bago pa, bago, inbes tagahat eh, pumupunta gagat sa San Juan River. E meron mo ng temporary na pag-iimbakan, napupuntaan yung tubig,” the DPWH chief said.
“Kasi kapag yan yung Ondoy type event… tapos dire direto yan sa San Juan River, e kahit anong pang gawin natin, pagkakaroon mapupuno yung San Juan River. At pag napuno yung San Juan River, wala na pupuntahan yung tubig. So kailangan natin gumawa ng iba pang mga proyekto na pag-iimbakan ng tubig. Yan medyo matagal-tagal yan. Medyo matagal-tagal yan,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dizon said he continues to inspect flood control projects across the country as the rainy season approaches.
In Arayat, Pampanga, the DPWH chief inspected a dike in Barangay Candating that had reportedly collapsed several times in the past.
“Nandito po ako sa Araya, Pampanga, kasi may chinecheck ako na, ito ‘yung mga na flood control project dito na hindi maayos ang pagkagawa na inaayos na natin ngayon para maprotektahan natin yung mga kababayan natin na dito binabaha,” Dizon said.
He noted that sections of the dike remained incomplete and riddled with holes, making them ineffective in preventing floodwaters from entering nearby communities.
Aside from repairing the dike, the DPWH is also conducting dredging operations to remove soil buildup obstructing the Pampanga River.
In Davao City, Dizon said he has also instructed the regional director to look into the flooding incidents that occurred in the city over the weekend.
The DPWH has likewise begun constructing a temporary bridge to replace the collapsed Callawa and Mandug bridges, which are expected to be completed within two to three weeks.
