00:00The president has ordered a stepped-up whole-of-government flood mitigation strategy,
00:05which entails sustained river dredging and desultation,
00:08cleanup of waterways and the rehab and utilization of all machinery and equipment in hand.
00:13Dab Contrabaja, the president also acknowledged the critical participation of NGOs and private business in the program,
00:21as we hear more from our Kenneth Pashente.
00:25Flooding is nothing new for Bonifacio whenever bad weather hits.
00:29He shares that the water rises up to his waist.
00:32That's why they often stay on the second floor.
00:35When the flooding gets worse, they head straight to the evacuation centers.
00:39It's hard. It's not going to be able to be able to do it in the area.
00:46I'm going to be able to do it in any way, but if it's intense, it's not going to be able to do it in the area.
00:56It's not going to be able to do it in the area, but it's not going to be able to do it in the area.
01:00Bonifacio is just one of the thousands of Metro Manila residents who are often experiencing flooding,
01:05a problem the government is set to address.
01:08Today, President Ferdinand R. Marcus Jr. himself led the launching of a massive initiative
01:12to combat flooding in Metro Manila and nearby areas.
01:15The President spearheaded the Oplan Contrabaja at Balihatar Creek in Barangay San Dionisio, Paranaque City.
01:22Simultaneously, operations were also launched in Caingin Creek in Mecawayan City,
01:27Sunog Apog Pumping Station in Tondo, Manila, San Juan River in Quezon City, and Las Piñas River.
01:33The Oplan Contrabaja is an inter-agency and whole-of-government initiative,
01:37brings together various government agencies, local governments, and the private sector
01:42to clean up rivers, creeks, and drainage systems,
01:45as well as to rehabilitate pumping stations to help prevent severe flooding.
01:49It includes dredging, removal of obstructions such as illegal structures,
01:54and more effective waste disposal and management.
01:56Dahil napag-aralan namin ng mabuti at malaking bahagi sa flooding ay ang siltation,
02:07masyado na mababaw yung ating mga spillway.
02:11Pangalawa ay ang basura na nagkukumpol-kumpol para hindi na nga makadaan.
02:18So ang unang natin kailangan gawin ay linisin lahat ng estero, lahat ng spillway,
02:25lahat ng ganito, upang maging mas malalim yung ating pagdadaanan ng tubig.
02:32Isa, pangalawa, para maayos natin at maging mas maganda ang pagtakbo ng tubig
02:39para hindi nga maiwan ang lupa na nanggaling sa taas, yung ibig nagsisiltation.
02:45The Oplan Contrabaja covers a total of 142.4 kilometers of rivers, creeks, and esteros,
02:52as well as 333.15 kilometers of drainage systems in Metro Manila.
02:57The president emphasized that the massive cleaning and clearing operations
03:00will be implemented within nine months,
03:03strictly enforced to ensure continuous positive results.
03:06Ngunit, even after that nine months,
03:09ay patuloy lang, regular na ang paglinis,
03:13pagdisiltation, paglinis ng basura,
03:19lahat ito ay patuloy natin gagawin.
03:21Hindi natin pwedeng tigilan dahil alam naman natin umiipon pa.
03:24Ang estimate ng ating mga scientifico ay sabi nila,
03:31mababawasan ng up to 60% ang pagbaha kung ito ay maging maayos na.
03:36In connection with this,
03:37the president pointed out the utilization of long-idled government equipment
03:41to aid in the massive operations,
03:43stressing that regardless of the situation,
03:46this should be used for the benefit of the people.
03:48Seven years ago,
03:50nakatinggalan dun sa warehouse nila ng DPWH
03:55at never nagamit.
03:57Dahil, kailangan daw itago for the big one.
04:01Pero, ito na yata yung big one when it comes to flooding.
04:05Ano pang inaantay natin?
04:06Kaya na ilabas na natin lahat,
04:08gagamitin natin lahat dyan.
04:09Plus, merong augmentation from, again,
04:13the private sector at marami naman sa laman ng equipment.
04:16And of course, with the approval and the cooperation of our LGUs.
04:21The chief executive also highlighted the need to fix errors
04:24in the design or function of certain pumping stations
04:27that were supposed to ease water flow,
04:29but instead, ended up blocking rivers and esteros.
04:32Marami sa mga pumping station natin,
04:35mula ng itinayo,
04:36ay hindi pa gumana kahit minsan.
04:39Hindi nag-operate kahit minsan.
04:41Bakit?
04:41Dahil, yung pumping station mismo,
04:44sa paglagay nila,
04:46yun pa ang nakaharang sa tubig.
04:48At,
04:49naging,
04:50imbis na magbigay ng solusyon,
04:53ito pa ang naging problema,
04:54yung mga pumping station na linagay.
04:56The initiative will also be expanded to other flood-prone areas
05:00such as Cebu,
05:02Bacolod,
05:02Rojas City,
05:03Bulacan,
05:04Pampanga,
05:05Cavite,
05:06Laguna,
05:07Pangasinan,
05:08Cotabato,
05:08Davao,
05:09and Cagayan de Oro.
05:10The program is also included in the Department of Public Works and Highways
05:14Maintenance and other operating expenses
05:16to ensure its continuous implementation.
05:18I'm very optimistic that once we get the majority of this done,
05:24maramdaman na kaagad natin na pagdating ulit ng tag-ulan next year,
05:30malaki na yung mababawasan sa flooding.
05:32Kasi, usually, yung lahat ng dumi na mahisala na,
05:37masasala na.
05:37Kasi,
05:38between parangyakit sa kanyong dito sa Bispinas,
05:42bali, ano lang naman ang ganyang kalaki lang yung aharangan.
05:45Pero, yung mga, ano nga, nag-dredging, mga-dredging nga,
05:49tapos nagkaroon ng tawag ito, yung,
05:52yung, ano, yung, ano, yung station na water pump station.
05:56Makin bago yun ah.
05:57The President also recognized the willingness of the private sector
06:01to collaborate in this program.
06:04Kenneth Pasiente
06:05from the National TV
06:07or a new and better Philippines.
