AS RAINY SEASON APPROACHES: Leni orders full-scale clearing of waterways

By Jason B. Neola

DETERMINED to safeguard the city against flooding as the rainy season approaches, Mayor Leni Robredo has ordered an intensified clean-up and rehabilitation of Naga’s waterways, with priority actions now underway in major creeks, drainage systems, and flood outflows.

Robredo’s aggressive response forms part of her administration’s 2028 Finish Lines, a set of strategic development goals that include building a cleaner, greener, and more climate-resilient city, with flood preparedness among the top priorities.

At the center of current operations is Sagop Creek, which the mayor recently described as “heavily silted, grabe ang basura, pati water lilies.” The water, she noted, can no longer pass through—it bounces back due to thick silt buildup and blockage.

A non-amphibious excavator is currently being used to remove surface debris, but its limited reach has prompted Robredo to request assistance from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to borrow an amphibious excavator. She also confirmed that the city government is considering the purchase of its own amphibious unit to ensure sustained Naga River rehabilitation efforts beyond this season.

An assessment by the City Engineer’s Office revealed that many of the city’s drainage systems are outdated—constructed almost four decades ago—and are too small to accommodate today’s rainfall volume. Robredo has ordered a massive clean-up of these clogged drains, alongside repairs and possible expansion of systems deemed structurally deficient.

She also raised concern over incomplete or disconnected drainage lines, particularly in Barangays Concepcion Grande, Concepcion Pequeña, and San Felipe, where segments of infrastructure were found unfinished or unlinked. The problem is worsened by flooding from the Yabu River during intense downpours.

Robredo emphasized that aside from creeks and drains, outflows—the final exit points for floodwaters—must also be cleared and, where needed, widened. These chokepoints prevent effective water discharge during storms.

In Villa Karangahan Subdivision, Barangay Calauag, rainwater currently follows a circuitous path through Canaman and Bombon via irrigation canals before reaching San Miguel Bay. The mayor said the system fails during heavy rain since the canals are not built to handle stormwater. A new drainage path is being studied to reroute floodwaters through Sitio Matiway in Barangay San Felipe, going straight to the Naga River.

To execute this broad agenda, Robredo has mobilized a three-agency task force:

1. City Engineer’s Office – inspecting and assessing all drainage structures;

2. Solid Waste Management Office – hauling debris from creeks and rivers and conducting declogging in barangays;

3. City Environment and Natural Resources Office (ENRO) – locating waterways, including those illegally filled or blocked.

Dumped over

The ENRO recently discovered that a creek inside a subdivision in Barangay Pacol was dumped over—an apparent violation of environmental requirements. Robredo said she will call the attention of the developer, noting that their building permit had a clear condition: waterways must remain unobstructed.

“We are making sure that no community is left vulnerable when storms hit,” Robredo said. “Our goal is not just to clean up for now but to build lasting protection. This is how we work toward our 2028 Finish Lines—for a Naga that is truly safe, livable, and resilient.”

In line with her administration’s campaign against flooding and obstructed waterways, Robredo has ordered the City Engineer’s Office (CEO) to summon the management of a mall and a developer of a housing subdivision in Barangay Pacol to clarify concerns regarding alleged encroachment on natural waterways during construction.

Mayor Robredo said that drone footage taken by the CEO revealed that a portion of the Sagop Creek within the mall’s property showed signs of water pooling on top of a concreted area—an indication that floodwaters may have originally flowed through that space before it was paved.

The mall management has denied the allegations, claiming that they used culverts to ensure the continuous flow of water and did not cover any waterway. However, Robredo emphasized the need for a thorough inspection.

“If the city government confirms that waterways were indeed covered, I will compel the management of the business establishment to restore them—just as we will do in the case of the housing subdivision,” Robredo said.

The City Environment and Natural Resources Office (ENRO) also reported that some fences within the subdivision compound have collapsed due to weak foundations. These structures are believed to have been built over natural waterways where floodwaters typically pass through.

Aside from these two specific cases, Robredo believes there are more violations within the city. She has instructed the ENRO to conduct a citywide investigation and identify all similar violations.

“All violators of such environmental laws will be summoned and held accountable,” she warned.

The initiative forms part of Robredo’s broader 2028 Finish Lines agenda, which prioritizes flood preparedness and the creation of a cleaner, greener, and more climate-resilient Naga.

Detention ponds

In a proactive move to address persistent flooding, the city government of Naga is considering the construction of at least six detention ponds aimed at preventing sudden surges in the city’s storm drains and the Naga River.

The plan, which was proposed by a team of urban planners invited by Robredo, is part of a comprehensive flood control initiative being studied to mitigate the city’s vulnerability to floods. The urban planners are scheduled to return to Naga on Thursday, July 10, to conduct further studies on the city’s water outflow systems and topography.

Mayor Robredo said the detention ponds will be strategically located, beginning from elevated areas and moving down toward the lower parts of the city. The concept involves temporarily storing stormwater in large containment areas and gradually releasing it once floodwaters in flood-prone barangays subside.

The first site identified for a detention pond is an area adjacent to the Metro Naga Sports Complex in Barangay Pacol. Robredo disclosed that the city is now in the process of identifying the landowner for possible land donation to jumpstart the project.

The initiative is not new. Robredo had already submitted the plan to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) in November last year, citing the significant cost involved. “We see an amount of ₱200 million for one, while there are detention ponds that may cost more than a hundred million pesos,” she said.

Given the high cost, the city has sought financial support from NEDA and other national government offices. Robredo also reached out to Regional Development Council (RDC) Chairperson Ricarte “Dong” Padilla, who is also governor of Camarines Norte, to help source funding for the project.

“These ponds will be the size of big swimming pools,” Robredo explained, noting that the city cannot shoulder the cost alone.

The mayor’s plan is seen as a local counterpart to the national government’s Bicol River Basin Development Program. However, Robredo pointed out that the national project appears far from implementation. “That cannot be seen happening in our lifetime,” she said.

Recognizing that Naga serves as a catch basin for floodwaters coming from neighboring towns, Robredo remained optimistic. “It’s not to say that we cannot resolve the problem,” she stressed. “We have a lot of things we can do — let’s fix our water outflows, the city’s drainage systems, let’s establish detention ponds — and I swear we can see good results."