Dizon forms Oplan Kontra Baha task force

MANILA, Philippines — Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon has formed a task force for the government’s Oplan Kontra Baha, which will be spearheaded by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) this year.

In an order issued last Jan. 14, Dizon had constituted the DPWH-Oplan Kontra Baha Task Force and named Public Works Undersecretary for special concerns Charles Calima Jr. as task force commander.

Dizon also ordered the creation of similar task force units in the 17 DPWH regional offices all over the country.

The DPWH chief said that the task force should collaborate with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of the Interior and Local Government and partner with the private sector to implement the “Oplan Kontra Baha: Nationwide Waterways Clearing and Cleaning Operations” program.

Dizon has given the task force a six-month timeline, or until July, to accomplish its task.

Dizon had announced the DPWH’s launch of the Oplan Kontra Baha, which he said will avoid the previous push of the DPWH in putting up costly flood control.

Environmental scientists have flagged these “gray” flood control solutions to even cause the worsening flooding in many communities where they were built as it caused the narrowing of waterways, impeding the outflow of floodwaters during heavy rain.