Oplan Kontra Baha improves waterways, drainage capacity in Naga

By Connie Calipay

LEGAZPI CITY --- The Department of Public Works and Highways in Bicol (DPWH-5) said Tuesday that the Oplan Kontra Baha (OKB) operations in Naga City have so far improved the drainage capacity of major waterways serving flood-prone communities.

In an interview, DPWH-5 spokesperson Justin Dayandante said ongoing declogging, clearing and desilting operations have enhanced the capacity of Sagop Creek and Capucnasan Creek to efficiently discharge water into the Bicol River.

“As of June 29, the flood mitigation initiative has surpassed half of its drainage clearing target, with 2,279.80 cubic meters of drainage cleared out of a 3,465-cubic-meter goal and 129,813.2 cubic meters of waterways desilted from the 219,237.27-cubic-meter target,” he said.

Dayandante said that with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive, the project will accelerate the rehabilitation of waterways and strengthen flood mitigation efforts in the city, as the President personally visited the project’s implementation last Feb. 21.

“The project will also protect private property and public infrastructure from water damage, ensure roads remain accessible and public safety is maintained during typhoons and heavy rainfall, and strengthen the overall climate adaptation and disaster resilience of the communities,” Dayandante said.

The project is scheduled to be completed by July 31. However, Dayandante mentioned that the full implementation of the OKB program in Naga City will likely extend into next year due to the recurring accumulation of solid waste and the rapid growth of vegetation, such as water hyacinths, which constantly block waterways.

“While the exact number of residents or households is not specified, the operations target highly vulnerable urban and residential communities in Naga City. The primary focus is on the highly populated Concepcion Pequeña, specifically benefiting areas around the Julian B. Meliton Elementary School,” he said.

Dayandante said the project has also produced visible results on Capucnasan Creek.

“A noticeable improvement is evident at Capucnasan Creek, where the operation has generated sufficient cleared material for the Naga City government to actively transport and use as backfill for the City College of Naga,” he said.

The clearing and desilting operations covered Sagop Creek, Capucnasan Creek, the Bicol River, the Robinsons Mall area, Julian B. Meliton Elementary School, Milaor Creek, Magsaysay Creek, the Naga–Carolina–Panicuason Highway, irrigation canals, and Matiway Creek.

“The initiative will also expand, with 31 OKB sites already identified for dredging and clearing operations across Naga City and the province of Camarines Sur,” Dayandante said. (With a report from Ella Mariz Miña, GIP/PNA)

CLEARED. The photo shows the before-and-after of Sagop Creek in Naga City, as part of the Marcos administration’s Oplan Kontra Baha initiative, as of June 17, 2026. As of June 29, the flood mitigation initiative has surpassed half of its drainage-clearing target, with 2,279.80 cubic meters cleared out of the 3,465-cubic-meter goal, and 129,813.2 cubic meters of waterways desilted from the 219,237.27-cubic-meter target. (Photo courtesy of DPWH-5)