Camille Naredo

Flooding in Oriental Mindoro. Handout/Oriental Mindoro PIO

Article (news)

Oriental Mindoro

Dennis Datu

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/17873806158211787372405458446.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Flooding in Oriental Mindoro. Handout/Oriental Mindoro PIO"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Flooding in Oriental Mindoro. <em>Handout/Oriental Mindoro PIO</em></span></span></span></div><p>CALAPAN CITY – Oriental Mindoro Gov. Humerlito “Bonz” Dolor is pushing for a combination of flood-control and river restoration measures, including completing stalled projects, desilting major rivers, and dredging clogged river mouths, as the province continues to grapple with recurring flooding.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/8/21/rescuers-save-12-teachers-stranded-by-raging-river-in-oriental-mindoro-0052">Rescuers save 12 teachers stranded by raging river in Oriental Mindoro</a></div><p>Dolor outlined the proposals following last week’s severe flooding that submerged 79 barangays across six towns and one city, including areas in Naujan and Calapan City.</p><p>One of his priorities is to complete and connect unfinished flood-control projects, particularly those that were left with gaps after contractors failed to finish the work.</p><p>Dolor said he discussed the matter with the regional director of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), who he said indicated that suspended or unfinished contracts may be canceled and subjected to rebidding.</p><p>“Sa discussion ko sa regional director ng DPWH, parang nandoon na ang direksyon nila. Parang they are going to cancel all the contracts, or they have already canceled ‘yung mga suspended contracts at magre-rebid sila. Tapos ‘yung nanalo doon gagawa, same area, bagong project, bagong design at mas mura,” Dolor said.</p><p>He also wants additional flood-control projects built along other sections of the Mag-Asawang Tubig, Bucayao and Panggalaan rivers.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/8/21/habagat-leaves-102m-in-agricultural-damage-in-oriental-mindoro-dikes-collapse-2327">Habagat leaves ₱102M in agricultural damage in Oriental Mindoro; dikes collapse</a></div><p>According to Dolor, around 36 kilometers combined along the three rivers still need to be addressed.</p><p>The governor acknowledged, however, that completing all the proposed projects would require massive funding. He said authorities should first identify the areas most vulnerable to flooding and prioritize these for government intervention.</p><p>Another proposal is the desilting of upstream portions of the Mag-Asawang Tubig and Panggalaan rivers, covering around 9.1 kilometers.</p><p>Dolor is proposing to widen these sections to about 30 meters and deepen them by three meters to improve the flow of water downstream.</p><p>“Kapag nagawa ito, ‘yung tubig dire-diretso pababa kasi ang nangyari sa ilog, humanap na ng kaniyang daan. Ngayon, kapag ito ay pinalalim natin 30 meters by 3, ‘yung tubig dire-diretso, hindi na babahain ‘yung napakalaking area na laging binabaha traditionally,” the governor explained.</p><p>Dolor is also pushing for river restoration through dredging, particularly at river mouths where sediment buildup has restricted the flow of water toward the sea.</p><p>He said keeping river mouths open is necessary to allow floodwaters to follow their natural course.</p><p>“Hindi puwede na hindi mo papaluangin ang bunganga ng ilog. Ito ang hindi maintindihan ng mga kumokontra sa dredging kasi ‘yung tubig, ang natural course ay pababa, going to the sea. ‘Yun ang disposal area niya eh. Pero papaano siya pupunta ng dagat kung bundok na ‘yung harap?” he said.</p><p>Dolor cited the river mouth in Barangay San Antonio in Naujan, where he said sediment buildup has become so severe that even boats are reportedly unable to pass through.</p><p>“‘Yung portion ng San Antonio sa Naujan kung saan nandoon ang bunganga, makikita mo kahit bangka nila hindi nakakalabas. That’s why ‘yung barangay gustong-gusto na gawin na ito,” Dolor said.</p><p>The governor&#x27;s proposals come amid recurring flooding in the province during storms and severe weather systems, including the southwest monsoon or habagat.</p><p>Flooding has repeatedly caused extensive damage to homes, farmland, livelihoods and other property across Oriental Mindoro.</p><p>Several flood-control projects have also been built along the province’s rivers, but some have drawn scrutiny after sections were reportedly found to be substandard and later collapsed, raising concerns over project implementation.</p><p>Along the Mag-Asawang Tubig River, for example, flood-control structures were built in disconnected sections, leaving gaps where floodwaters can still spill toward nearby communities and farmlands.</p><p>For Dolor, addressing the province’s flooding problem will require not just more flood-control structures, but also restoring the capacity of rivers to carry water downstream and out to sea.</p><p>The latest flooding affected 79 barangays across six towns and one city, underscoring the need for long-term measures as the province continues to face recurring flooding.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="960" height="540" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bmwQQ_1SQV4?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Oriental Mindoro Gov. Humerlito “Bonz” Dolor is pushing for a combination of flood-control and river restoration measures, including completing stalled projects, desilting major rivers, and dredging clogged river mouths, as the province continues to grapple with recurring flooding.</p>

Oriental Mindoro Gov. Humerlito “Bonz” Dolor is pushing for a combination of flood-control and river restoration measures, including completing stalled projects, desilting major rivers, and dredging clogged river mouths, as the province continues to grapple with recurring flooding.

Oriental Mindoro governor pushes for river restoration, other measures vs flooding

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Oriental Mindoro governor pushes for river restoration, other measures vs flooding

Dennis Datu,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 22, 2026 02:44 PM PHT

Read More:

FLOODS

ORIENTAL MINDORO

DREDGING

FLOOD CONTROL

RIVER RESTORATION

GOV. BONZ DOLOR

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