Bacolod City Launches Oplan Kontra Baha to Combat Flooding with 3,000 'River Warriors'

A ten-day clean-up and desilting initiative is set to commence in Bacolod City, today, November 27, as part of the local government’s "Oplan Kontra Baha."

Bacolod Lone District Representative Alfredo Abelardo Benitez announced that 3,000 workers from the Department of Labor and Employment’s TUPAD program will be deployed across the city as "River Warriors."

Their primary mission is to clear and desilt 30,785.69 cubic meters of silt to address persistent flooding issues in the city. Benitez described the initiative as a major reset and a short-term solution to the flooding problem.

The official launching ceremony, initially scheduled for this Friday and possibly to be attended by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., has been tentatively moved to December.

A flood mitigation summit will also be conducted on December 10 to discuss long-term solutions.

Yesterday, key officials gathered at the Bacolod City Government Center for the DPWH-LGU Alignment Meeting on Oplan Kontra Baha. Attendees included Benitez, Mayor Greg Gasataya, Vice Mayor Kalaw Puentevella, DPWH Undersecretary Charles Calima, DPWH Region 6 Assistant Director OIC Ricardo Gutierrez, DPWH-Bacolod District Engineer Leah Jamero, city councilors, and barangay captains.

During the meeting, the DPWH presented a comprehensive plan focused on cleaning and deepening rivers, creeks, and estuaries to reduce flooding by up to 60 percent.

The DPWH identified four main challenges along with their solutions:

• Clogged drainage and poor stormwater flow will be tackled with vacuum sewer jet cleaners and manual debris removal.
• Silted waterways require regular dredging and cleaning.
• Infrastructure blockages will involve removing illegal structures, debris, and obstructions.
• Poor waste management will be addressed by enforcing strict policies, scheduled garbage collection, and mandating sewage treatment plants for establishments.

The department stressed that 200 heavy equipment units are necessary to clear 116.734 kilometers of drainage on national roads and 21.537 kilometers on local roads.

Key operational sites include the Mambuloc Creek launch site, Mandalagan River dredging, and clearing at Banago Creek. Manual clearing is slated for Mandalagan River (Larson and Gatuslao Streets), Bata North Terminal, Amuog Creek, and Lupit River (Araneta Street).

This comprehensive anti-flood effort began in October 2025 and is projected to conclude by June 2026.❤️