Marcos leads launch of estero cleanup program in Pasig, explains flood control efforts

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Saturday led the launching of the Bayanihan sa Estero: Malinis na Estero Pamayanan Protektado program at the Ilugin River (Buli Creek) in Barangay Pinagbuhatan, Pasig City.

"We are here because we are launching the program that is really led by – that’s led by MMDA [Metropolitan Manila Development Authority] on what we call the Bayanihan Estero Program. And what that essentially means ay lilinisin natin itong mga estero natin (we will clean our esteros)," Marcos said.

Under the program, activities such as unclogging Metro Manila's drainage laterals, dredging waterways, removing silt from drainage mains and eliminating accumulated solid waste are included.

The aim is to reduce the impact of floods due to unusually heavy rains. The program is to be implemented in close coordination with national government agencies led by the MMDA, local government units and civil society organizations.

Pangulong Marcos dumating na sa Pasig para sa pag lulunsad ng Bayanihan sa Estero Program @gmanews pic.twitter.com/X4BT37TyJH

— Bernadette Reyes (@bernadettereyes) August 2, 2025

"That's why we have encouraged this, kasama natin ang DOLE [Department of Labor and Employment], of course, the DILG [Department of the Interior and Local Government], all our local government officials, and all the political leaders. Kailangan natin magsama-sama, magkaisa, at pagtulungan ito. Dahil alam naman natin ang matinding usapan sa nakaraang ilang araw may ‘yung flood control projects," Marcos said.

(That's why we have encouraged this, together with the DOLE, of course, the DILG, all our local government officials, and all the political leaders. We need to unite and work on this together because we have seen how intense the discussions were in recent days regarding flood control projects.)

"O sige, tiningnan din natin ‘yan. Ngunit kahit magandang-maganda na lahat ng flood control projects natin, kapag ganito pa rin ang ating estero, eh wala rin, mababaha pa rin tayo dahil walang madaanan ‘yung tubig. Mababaw na ‘yung tubig, kakaunti na lang ‘yung dumadaan na tubig. Pataas nang pataas ang level ng tubig. So, talagang kailangan bigyan natin ng pansin itong problemang ito," he said.

(Okay, we will look into that. But even if all the flood control projects are really good, if this is the state of our esteros, we will still get flooded because the water won't be able to flow. The depth [of the estero] is already shallow; there is not much water flowing. The water level is rising. So, we really need to address this problem.)

Twenty-three esteros have been identified to be prioritized in the Bayanihan sa Estero: Malinis na Estero Pamayanan Protektado program, the Presidential Communications Office said. These 23 esteros were observed to have significant siltation, heavy solid waste buildup, poor flow conditions and vulnerability to recurrent flooding.

"Bago pa dumating ang Crising, bago dumating ang Crising, nakapag-clear na tayo ng isang dosena, labindalawang estero na nalinis na natin. Kaya kahit papaano nabawasan ang epekto. Wala tayong magagawa dahil sa dami ng bagsak ng tubig. Ngunit makikita natin kapag malinis ang mga estero, mabilis din mawala ang baha," Marcos said.

(Even before [tropical cyclone] Crising, we were able to clear and clean 12 esteros. So somehow the effects of the heavy rains were lessened. We could not do anything about the amount of rainfall. But we could see that if the esteros are clean, the floods will recede fast.)

"Kaya naiiwan ang baha dahil walang madaanan ng tubig at tatagal talaga na may tubig sa mga bahay-bahay nung ating mga – lalong-lalo na ‘yung mga nakatira dito sa tabi ng mga creek natin," he said.

(When there is no way for the water to flow, floods will take long to recede and will stay in houses, especially those beside creeks.)

Watershed development

Marcos said watershed development is needed to address the water siltation.

"Kasabay nitong paglinis mayroon ding desiltation dahil talagang tumataas ang ano – tumataas ang tubig. Mababaw na ‘yung tubig dahil sa siltation, at wala na rin tayong choice doon. Kaya hanggang sa watershed development kasama dito sa solusyon na ito dahil ‘yung watershed kung saan nanggagaling ‘yung tubig – pagka maraming puno, hindi nadadala ‘yung lupa. Hindi magsi-silt ng ganito kapagka maraming puno," he said.

(Simultaneous with the cleanup is the desiltation because the water level is really rising. We have no choice about that. So watershed development is part of the solution. When there are enough trees in the watershed, the soil is not washed away. There won't be siltation if there are many trees.

"Kaya kasama sa watershed development na magtatanim tayo ng puno para hindi madala ng tubig ‘yung lupa na dinadala dito sa mga creek natin hangga’t maging mababaw na mababaw kaya nagkakabaha," Marcos said.

(Included in watershed development is the planting of trees. This will prevent the water from washing away the soil and depositing this in creeks which leads to the rise in water level resulting in floods.)

"Kaya marami – malaking proyekto ito na sa flood control. Hindi lamang sa pagpatayo ng –  ‘yung talagang slope protection, ‘yung mga dike, hindi lamang ‘yun," he said.

(So that's a lot. Flood control is a big project. It's not just having slope protection and dikes.)

"Ito, kasama na ito ‘yung pagpalinis, pati watershed development sa taas kung saan nanggagaling ‘yung tubig. Kaya ‘yan ang aming ginagawa para – parang adjustment natin. Kailangan na talaga tayo mag-adjust sa climate change.  At kahit anong gawin natin ay hindi natin mapipigilan ang tinatawag na climate change at ang pagbigat ng dating ng bagyo at pagdami ng pagbaba – ang dami ng pagbaba ng siltation at ang daming mga nagiging basura na hinaharang ‘yung creek natin, sinisira ‘yung mga pumping station natin.

(Cleanup is part of it, also watershed development upland where the water comes from. So that's what we are doing as we need to adjust to climate change. No matter what we do, we cannot stop climate change. Neither can we stop storms and flooding. The siltation and garbage clogging our creeks damage our pumping stations.)

"At ‘yun ang isang malaking bahagi sa flood control na hindi pa natin naaayos. Ngayon ay inaayos na natin (And that is one part of flood control that we have to address. We are working on it.)

Water hyacinths

During the launch on Saturday, Marcos observed the cleanup drive in Buli Creek. Water hyacinths were removed from the pond using a crane on a barge.

"Hangga’t makita na talaga ninyo kung gaano kakapal ‘yung water hyacinth at gaano karami ‘yung kailangan talagang kolektahin, gaano kababaw na ‘yung tubig dahil sa siltation, hindi mo talaga – kahit na mga picture lamang ang nakita mo ibang iba talaga ‘pag nakita mo gaano kakapal ito," he said.

(You can't imagine how thick the water hyacinths are, how much need to be collected, how shallow the water is due to siltation until you see them for yourself. The pictures are nothing like the real thing.)

"Sa dami ng water lily, ng water hyacinth pala, ng water hyacinth sa dami, kahit na sa – ‘yung mga nagtatrabaho doon nilalakad nila, nakakalakad – para silang Jesus Christ lumalakad sila sa tubig eh. [laughter] Oo, talagang ganoon kakapal ang nasa ilalim kaya pati tao kaya na maglakad," Marcos added.

(Due to the volume of water lily, rather of water hyacinths, those who are working there and walking -- it seems they are like Jesus Christ walking on water. Yes, that's how thick the water hyacinths are underneath so people can walk on them.)

Marcos also inspected the mobile recovery facility where water hyacinths by-products such as lily pots and charcoal briquettes and recyclable wastes collected from the river such as hollow blocks and plastic bricks are displayed.

The President also interacted online with volunteers and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority personnel who were conducting a simultaneous cleanup drive at Catmon Creek in Malabon City, Pinagsama Creek in Taguig City, Hagonoy Retarding Pond in Taguig City, and Tapayan Retarding Pond in Taytay, Rizal.  

"Currently, there are 273 identified rivers, tributaries, esteros and open canals in the metropolis that serve as primary channels for conveying stormwater and flood runoff across the National Capital Region (NCR)," the PCO said. —KG, GMA Integrated News