President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. today called for full cooperation from all sectors to clean up Metro Manila’s waterways, emphasizing that even the best flood control projects are useless if rivers and creeks remain clogged with trash and water hyacinths.
Speaking at the launch of the Bayanihan sa Estero campaign at Buli Creek in Pasig City, President Marcos highlighted the critical link between clean waterways and effective flood prevention. “Even if all our flood control projects are perfectly done, if our waterways remain like this, it will be for nothing. We will still experience floods because the water has nowhere to go,” he said, referencing the heavily congested Buli Creek.
The President’s remarks follow his recent State of the Nation Address, where he ordered an audit of flood control projects from the past three years. He condemned corruption in these projects and vowed to hold those responsible for “anomalous and non-existent” projects accountable.
Marcos noted that while heavy rainfall is a significant factor in flooding, clean waterways allow floodwaters to recede quickly. “The flood stays because the water has no place to go, and it will take a long time for the water to leave our homes, especially for those living near the creeks,” he explained.
The Bayanihan sa Estero campaign is a multi-sectoral initiative led by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA). It brings together national agencies, local government units, and civil society groups to clean up major waterways. The campaign has prioritized 23 waterways, with 12 already cleaned and five, including Buli Creek, currently undergoing cleanup. The MMDA aims to complete the cleanup of all 23 priority waterways by the third quarter of this year.
President Marcos’s message is clear: solving the flooding crisis requires not just infrastructure but also collective responsibility in maintaining the cleanliness of the country’s waterways.
