SAN Miguel Corp. (SMC) president Ramon S. Ang has assured President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. that Cebu will no longer experience flooding once the province’s major waterways are cleared within a year.
During his visit to Cebu on Friday, Nov. 21, the President told residents that they can expect significant relief from flooding through the “Oplan Kontra Baha: Metro Cebu Waterways Clearing and Cleaning Operations.”
The program was launched at Mahiga Creek near the M. Logarta Bridge, which straddles the cities of Mandaue and Cebu.
According to Marcos, “Ang projection natin, ang pangako sa atin… one year… ang pangako sa akin, ‘pag ka umulan ulit, hindi na magbabaha.”
“So mga nine months na trabaho bago darating ulit ang ulan. Hopefully by that time, hindi na tayo makakakita ng baha kagaya ng nakita natin noon dahil lahat ng nakaharang, lahat ng barado na labasan ng tubig ay ‘yun ang lilinisin at hindi na mababara. May dadaanan na ‘yung tubig palabas,” he added.
The President personally inspected dredging activities, garbage clearing, waterway cleanup, and the demolition of illegal structures along Mahiga Creek to restore natural water flow and reduce flood risk.
He was joined by Ang and Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon.
Ang is supporting “Oplan Kontra Baha” through SMC’s volunteer assistance, which includes extensive waterway cleanup and other flood-mitigation projects at no cost to the government or taxpayers.
Marcos added that once the clearing operations are completed, the government will proceed with the construction of Sabo dams.
“Ang Sabo dam, ‘yung maliliit na dam na mula sa bundok pa nagsisimula at kinokontrol ‘yung takbo ng tubig. Kasi kung minsan, malaki ang damage dahil ang bigat, ang bilis ng takbo ng tubig kaya’t ang daming sinira,” he said.
“Hindi dam ‘yan na mangongolekta ng tubig. Ginagawa niyan, kinokontrol ang takbo ng tubig. Hindi lang nag-iisa ‘yan. Siguro mga tatlo o apat,” he added.
