Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon has formed a task force for the government's Oplan Kontra Baha, to be led by the Department of Public Works and Highways this year. The order was issued on January 14, with similar units planned for the 17 DPWH regional offices nationwide.
On January 14, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon issued an order to establish the DPWH-Oplan Kontra Baha Task Force, appointing Public Works Undersecretary for special concerns Charles Calima Jr. as commander. He also directed the creation of similar task force units in the 17 DPWH regional offices across the country.
The task force will collaborate with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of the Interior and Local Government, and private sector partners to implement the “Oplan Kontra Baha: Nationwide Waterways Clearing and Cleaning Operations” program. Dizon has set a six-month timeline, ending in July, for completing the objectives.
Dizon announced the DPWH's launch of Oplan Kontra Baha, which shifts away from the department's previous emphasis on expensive flood control infrastructure. Instead, it prioritizes clearing waterways. Environmental scientists have criticized such “gray” flood control measures for potentially exacerbating flooding in affected communities by narrowing waterways and hindering water outflow during heavy rains.