Jamaine Punzalan

Residents wade through waist deep and garbage strewn floodwaters along Araneta Avenue in Quezon City, on September 23, 2023. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File

Article (news)

Jervis Manahan

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177925281693620230923-flood-araneta-ave-MT-2.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Residents wade through waist deep and garbage strewn floodwaters along Araneta Avenue in Quezon City, on September 23, 2023. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr on Wednesday inspected the “Oplan Kontra Baha” project near Araneta Avenue in Quezon City, which is one of the most flood-prone areas in Metro Manila.</p><p>This comes almost a year since the flood control issue came under public scrutiny, when the President highlighted the issue in his 2025 State of the Nation Address.</p><p>Marcos checked the desiltation efforts and the construction of a pumping station to alleviate flooding in areas around the creek.</p><p>&quot;Historically, pagka masyadong malakas ang ulan, o kahit na may ulan, basta may ulan lang, baha agad dito eh. Kaya kailangan – kailangan natin itong pumping station,&quot; Marcos said.</p><p>&quot;Kaya halimbawa dito, dito sa lugar na ito, kung titingnan ninyo ang terrain dito, malalim talaga dito, kaya dito pumupunta lahat ng tubig,&quot; he added.</p><p>Marcos talked briefly to residents, promising them of less severe flooding as the country heads into the rainy season.</p><p>&quot;Kahit kaunti lang ang ulan, nandito na kaagad ‘yung tubig. At pagka malakas ang ulan eh lumalampas daw sa tao ‘yung lalim ng tubig. This is one of the areas that are critical kaya’t ito, nandito tayo,&quot; he said.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FabscbnNEWS%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02LmpYBHGUsnTdBPGNLaQ6j8hd29RmHWN6zQSKvCg1KmD63QfVHscTKGGBCAgZyNMMl&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=500" width="500" height="504" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span>Marcos said that while projects to lessen flooding were ongoing nationwide, densely populated and flood prone areas would be prioritized.</div><p>In the specific Quezon City site, desilting is ongoing and pumps have been placed, as the major thoroughfare gets impassable even with just moderate rains.</p><p>&quot;Palagay ko, pagdating ng tag-ulan, mas – maghuhukay pa sila ng mga isang metro pa daw. Kulang pa daw ‘yung pagkabawas nila doon sa lupa eh isang metro pa daw,&quot; Marcos said.</p><p>&quot;At malamang, at mararamdaman na kaagad, kapag tayo ay nasa tag-ulan na ay makikita natin na malaking mababawasan,&quot; he added.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F2532246053901113%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </span><strong>RESIDENTS HOPEFUL</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Residents in Barangay Damayang Lagi, who have annually suffered from severe flooding, said they were hopeful with the ongoing flood control projects.</p><p>They believe this will finally alleviate, if not end, their perennial problem of floods.</p><p>&quot;Dito kasi yung baha, konting baha lang, lampas bubong na po yun. Nasa bubong kami ng jeep, walang kain-kain yon,&quot; said Vivian Macaslin, one of the residents.</p><p>&quot;Sana, umaasa po kami na hindi na kami bahain ng ganun ka grabe, sana maaksyunan po ito,&quot; she added.</p><p>They welcomed Marcos and the delegation who did the inspection.</p><p>&quot;Kapag ang buhos ng ulan ay talagang malakas, ito hindi na madaanan talaga. Napakahirap,&quot; said Bonbon Magat.</p><p>&quot;Natutuwa ako nung dumating Pangulo, nagkakaroon kami ng pag-asa na hindi na babaha. Bumaha man, hindi na ganon kataas,&quot; he added.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>SEARCH FOR ACCOUNTABILITY CONTINUES</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F1428390382431953%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>On the legal front, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said the justice system was still working to hold accountable the personalities involved in the flood control scandal.</p><p>&quot;Gagawin natin ang trabaho natin para mapanagot, sa tulong ng Ombudsman at DOJ, nakita nyo naman nitong nakaraan, naglalabas na ang DOJ at Ombudsman ng mga kaso so tuluy-tuloy ang cooperation natin doon,&quot; Dizon said.</p><p>&quot;Pero ang trabaho ng DPWH ay siguruhin na yung pagbaha ay maiibsan kasi wala na tayong choice kasi pagbaha part na yan ng daily life sa Pilipinas,&quot; he added.</p><p>Dizon refused to name who&#x27;s next to be charged, saying it was the work of the DOJ and Ombudsman, but said his agency would remain cooperative in the investigation.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>MORE FLOOD CONTROL STORIES:</strong></div><div><strong></strong><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/19/sandiganbayan-subpoenas-dpwh-records-of-lawmakers-funding-requests-1303">Sandiganbayan subpoenas DPWH records of lawmakers&#x27; funding requests </a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/18/doj-recommends-plunder-graft-charges-vs-estrada-and-others-over-infra-projects-1645">DOJ recommends plunder, graft charges vs Estrada and others over infra projects </a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/12/lacson-says-senate-probe-findings-on-flood-control-anomalies-won-t-go-to-waste-1706">Lacson says Senate probe findings on flood control anomalies won’t go to waste </a><strong></strong></div>

<p>President Ferdinand Marcos Jr on Wednesday inspected the “Oplan Kontra Baha” project near Araneta Avenue in Quezon City, which is one of the most flood-prone areas in Metro Manila.</p>

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr on Wednesday inspected the “Oplan Kontra Baha” project near Araneta Avenue in Quezon City, which is one of the most flood-prone areas in Metro Manila.

Marcos inspects Oplan Kontra Baha program, promises less flooding to residents near Araneta Avenue

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Nation

Marcos inspects Oplan Kontra Baha program, promises less flooding to residents near Araneta Avenue

Jervis Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 20, 2026 01:03 PM PHT

Read More:

PBBM

flooding

Oplan Kontra Baha

Flood Control

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.