President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Wednesday inspected a major flood-control project in Quezon City, assuring the public of aggressive government action to prevent severe urban flooding in Metro Manila as the rainy season approaches.
During his visit to the ₱482-million G. Araneta Drainage Improvement Project, Marcos highlighted that the administration has begun executing long-delayed recommendations from past flood studies under its nationwide “Oplan Kontra Baha” strategy.
“This is only one part of the interventions that we will be making,” Marcos said.
The infrastructure initiative involves installing two massive 1.5-meter high-density polyethylene drainage pipes across a 758-meter stretch from Kaliraya Street to E. Rodriguez Sr. Avenue. Government engineers are targeting a May 31 completion date for the project.
Araneta Avenue has historically been one of the metro’s most flood-prone areas due to its proximity to the frequently overflowing Talayan Creek and San Juan River. To combat this, Marcos explained that the government is combining drainage rehabilitation, desilting operations, pipe-laying, and pumping systems.
“Historically, kahit may konting ulan lang, baha agad dito,” the President said.
(Historically, even with just a little rain, it floods immediately here.)
While plans for a permanent pumping station near the San Juan River are underway, temporary mobile pumps have already been deployed. Engineers are also rushing excavation works to deepen waterways before the peak of the rainy season.
“Palagay ko pagdating ng tag-ulan… mararamdaman agad, makikita nating malaki ang mababawasan,” Marcos added.
(I think when the rainy season comes… it will be felt immediately, we will see that the flooding will be greatly reduced.)
The President disclosed that many of the current flood mitigation efforts are based on years-old recommendations from Project NOAH hazard mapping studies that are only now being fully implemented.
He emphasized that these infrastructure efforts extend beyond the capital.
“Itong ginagawa natin hindi para sa Metro Manila lamang,” Marcos stressed.
(What we are doing here is not for Metro Manila alone.)
Nevertheless, the President acknowledged that Metro Manila remains an immediate priority due to its high population density and the heavy economic toll of major floods.
“These are the strategies that we are employing. It will take a bit of time but we put in a good start,” he said.
During the site visit, Marcos was also briefed on ongoing garbage-clearing operations and restoration works designed to restore and improve natural water flow into the San Juan River.