President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday launched a multi-sectoral campaign to clear clogged and polluted waterways and drainages in and around Metro Manila to mitigate flash floods during heavy rains.

The President led the launching of Oplan Kontra Baha: Greater Metro Manila Waterways Clearing and Cleaning Operations at Balihatar Creek in Barangay San Dionisio, Parañaque City.

The campaign was simultaneously launched in Caingin Creek in Meycauayan City; Sunog Apog Pumping Station in Tondo, Manila; San Juan River in Quezon City; and Las Piñas River in Las Piñas City that are also undergoing cleanup.

President Marcos said scientists have estimated that flash floods in Metro Manila may be reduced by up to 60 percent once the waterways and drainage systems have been restored to their full water carrying capacity.

“I am very optimistic that once we get the majority of this done, maramdaman na kaagad natin na pagdating ulit ng tag-ulan next year, malaki na ‘yung mababawasan sa flooding,” the President said.

The President inspected the ongoing dredging and waste clearing activities at Balihatar Creek, while accompanied by national and local government officials and private sector partners.

Oplan Kontra Baha will be carried out from November 2025 to July 2026, with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) spearheading the multi-sectoral partnership among several national government agencies, local government units and major private corporations.

The clearing campaign covers the total of 142.4 kilometers of rivers, creeks and esteros, and 333.15 kilometers of drainage systems throughout Metro Manila aimed at minimizing flooding in low-lying areas during the typhoon season.

During the inspection, President Marcos said siltation and waste buildup in waterways and drainage systems have greatly contributed to recurrent flash floods.

“We will continue to do this first part of the Oplan hanggang July of next year, mga nine months ito. Hindi namin titigilan,” the President said.

“Even after that nine months ay patuloy lang, regular na ang paglinis, pag-desiltation, paglinis ng basura, lahat ito ay patuloy nating gagawin. Hindi natin puwedeng tigilan dahil alam naman natin umiipon pa.”

Aside from the cleaning of waterways and declogging of drainage systems, Oplan Kontra Baha also involved the management of pumping stations, including some that have been found to be obstructions.

“Ang isa pang nakita nating problema ay ang paglagay ng mga pumping station na mali. Marami sa mga pumping station natin mula ng itinayo ay hindi pa gumana kahit minsan,” President Marcos said.

“Bakit? Dahil ‘yung pumping station mismo sa paglagay nila ‘yun pa ang nakaharang sa tubig. Imbes na magbigay ng solusyon, ito pa ang naging problema,” the President added.

The Chief Executive said Oplan Kontra Baha will eventually be expanded to other areas that experience worsening flash floods, such as Cebu, Bacolod, Roxas City, Bulacan, Pampanga, Cavite, Laguna, Pangasinan, Cotabato, Davao, and Cagayan de Oro.

“It’s the beginning of a very wide-ranging program to at least partially solve the problem of flooding especially in the urban areas, especially in Metro Manila and the other highly urbanized cities and provinces,” said the President.

“Kaya this is going to be a simple solution but it will take a lot of work. And mabuti na lang ay marami tayong mga willing na tumutulong.” | PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. welcomed former United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon during a courtesy call at Malacañan Palace on Tuesday.

During their meeting, President Marcos expressed his appreciation for Ban’s continued advocacy and leadership in promoting climate resilience and sustainability, particularly in vulnerable nations such as the Philippines.

“I am glad that you continue this very important work…. What you are doing — sustainability — is key to the survival of my country, considering we are so vulnerable to the effects of climate change,” the President said.

For his part, Ban expressed his gratitude to President Marcos for the warm reception and conveyed his hope that the Philippines will recover swiftly from the recent devastation caused by the back-to-back typhoons.

Ban’s visit to Manila comes in the wake of Super Typhoon Uwan and Typhoon Tino, which brought widespread devastation across parts of the Visayas and other regions.

On Monday, the former UN chief participated in a dialogue at the Trans-Pacific Sustainability Dialogue (TPSD) in Makati City, where he urged the international community to extend support to the Philippines and other climate-vulnerable nations in recovering from increasingly destructive natural disasters.

The TPSD is a joint initiative of the Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center (APARC) at Stanford University and the Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future that brings together scholars, policymakers, and practitioners to accelerate progress on achieving the United Nations-adopted 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

President Marcos and Ban last met in February 2024, when the President welcomed the continued support of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), where Ban serves as President and Chairman of the Council.

Ban reaffirmed the GGGI’s commitment to assist the Marcos administration in implementing sustainable and climate-resilient development programs.

Joining the President during the meeting were Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Presidential Communications Office Acting Secretary Dave Gomez, and Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Maria Teresa Almojuela.

Ban, meanwhile, was joined by Republic of Korea Ambassador to the Philippines His Excellency Lee Sang-hwa, former Ambassador of Korea to Australia and former President of Jeju Peace Institute Mr. Kim Bonghyun, and former Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Republic of Korea to the United Nations Mr. Kim Sook. | PND

To ensure the safety and welfare of motorists and typhoon-affected residents, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered round-the-clock clearing operations of roads rendered impassable due to Super Typhoon Uwan.

In a Palace press briefing on Tuesday, Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has been conducting continuous clean up and repair works of typhoon-damaged roads across the country.

“Pangulong Marcos Jr., inutos ang 24/7 clearing operations sa mga kalsadang hindi madaanan dahil sa Super Typhoon Uwan. Alinsunod sa direktiba ng Pangulo, araw-gabi ang trabaho ng DPWH upang linisin at kumpunihin ang mga apektadong kalsada sa iba’t-ibang bahagi ng bansa,” Castro said.

“Ang agarang aksyon na ito ay inutos ni Pangulong Marcos Jr. sa DPWH upang siguruhing ligtas ang mga pangunahing kalsada para sa mga motorista at mga malapit or malalapit sa komunidad,” she added.

According to Castro, 26 national roads have already been reopened and are now passable to motorists, adding that even transport operations are back to normal.

Citing data from the DPWH, Castro said nearly 40 national road sections became impassable due to flooding, landslides, fallen trees and toppled electricity posts.

Castro said that currently, clearing operations are ongoing in 13 road sections in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR); 10 in Cagayan Valley (Region II), eight in Bicol (Region V), and one each in National Capital Region (NCR), Ilocos (Region I), Central Luzon (Region III), and SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII).

Castro assured more roads are expected to reopen following the DPWH’s extensive clearing operations. | PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered concerned government agencies to prioritize the repatriation of rescued Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) who were victims of human trafficking and forced into working in scam hubs in Myanmar.

“Mga na-rescue na OFW mula iba’t-ibang scam hubs sa Myanmar, papauwi na ng Pilipinas. Ito’y ayon sa direktiba ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. na bigyang prayoridad ang pagbabalik-bansa ng mga OFW maging ang kanilang health and welfare pagdating nila sa Pilipinas,” Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said during a press briefing in Malacañang on Tuesday.

Castro said President Marcos’ order to repatriate the rescued OFWs is part of the whole-of-government approach, which is key to the successful repatriation efforts of the administration.

Castro said Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Cacdac has reported that some 346 OFWs are scheduled to return to the Philippines on November 12 via a chartered flight from Bangkok, Thailand.

Various government agencies including the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Health (DOH), and the DMW will welcome the OFWs to assure their good health and welfare.

The DFA earlier said it continues to monitor the situation in Myawaddy, Myanmar – through the Philippine Embassy in Yangon – following operations conducted by law enforcement authorities in scam hub compounds on October 20, 2025.

The DFA said the Philippine Embassy has received more than 220 active requests for repatriation assistance from Filipinos in scam hub areas.

The Philippine Embassy is working with Myanmar authorities to finalize the deportation procedures for OFWs in holding camps and to facilitate the rescue of those who remain in scam hub compounds, the DFA statement said. | PND

Kumilos agad si Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. upang maibalik ang kuryente at signal, at maihatid ang tulong sa mga lugar na sinalanta ng Super Typhoon Uwan at Typhoon Tino.

Sa kanyang maagap na utos, naibalik na ang kuryente sa mahigit 60% ng mga apektadong lugar, ayon kay Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary at Palace Press Officer Claire Castro.

Sa ulat ng Department of Energy (DOE) sa pangunguna ni Secretary Sharon Garin, 454 sa 712 apektadong munisipalidad ang may suplay na muli ng kuryente habang nagpapatuloy ang pagpapanumbalik para sa mahigit 3 milyong consumer connections. Tinatayang PhP4 milyon ang pinsala ng bagyo sa sektor ng enerhiya.

Pinabilis din ng Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) sa pamumuno ni Secretary Henry Aguda, ang pagpapanumbalik ng signal.

Balik-serbisyo na ng Smart sa 82% ng apektadong lugar, 77% ang Globe, 63% ang Dito, at 79% ang Converge. Patuloy ang pagsasaayos sa natitirang mga lugar.

Nakapagbigay na ang pamahalaan ng PhP324.1 milyon para sa mga pamilyang nasalanta ng Typhoon Tino at PhP48.9 milyon para sa mga biktima ng Super Typhoon Uwan, ayon sa National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

Ipinadala ni Pangulong Marcos ang kanyang Gabinete sa mga binagyong lugar upang pangunahan ang relief at recovery operations.

Pinangunahan ni Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian sa Catanduanes ang pamamahagi ng 600,000 family food packs at 21,000 ready-to-eat boxes.

Sa Leyte, naghatid naman si Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Ted Herbosa ng PhP8.2 milyong halaga ng gamot at supply, at personal na kinamusta ang mga health workers.

Sinuri ni Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara ang kalagayan ng mga paaralan sa Negros Occidental, habang tiningnan ni Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Frasco ang epekto ng bagyo sa turismo.

Binantayan naman ni DOE Secretary Garin ang power restoration sa mga lugar na naapektuhan ng bagyo.

Inatasan din ni Pangulong Marcos ang Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) na magsagawa ng 24/7 clearing operations para maibalik ang daanan ng mga pangunahing kalsada.

Ayon sa DPWH, 26 national roads na ang bukas muli mula sa halos 40 road sections na naapektuhan ng pagbaha, pagguho ng lupa, at mga nabuwal na puno at poste.

Patuloy ang clearing sa 13 kalsada sa Cordillera Administrative Region, isa sa National Capital Region, isa sa Region I, sampu sa Region II, isa sa Region III, walo sa Region V, at isa sa Region XII upang matiyak ang ligtas na biyahe ng mga motorista. | PND

The administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. goes full speed in providing immediate assistance and relief operations to areas severely affected by Super Typhoon Uwan and Typhoon Tino.

In a Palace press briefing on Tuesday, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said President Marcos has directed various government agencies to personally oversee the relief and recovery operations and ensure that all the needs of affected residents are properly addressed.

“Buong pwersa ang administrasyon ni Pangulong Marcos Jr. sa pag-aksyon sa mga lugar na tinamaan ng Super Typhoon Uwan at Typhoon Tino. Alinsunod ito sa mandato ng Pangulo na personal na alamin ang kalagayan ng mga residenteng tinamaan ng magkasunod na bagyo,” Castro said.

Castro said Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian has flown to Catanduanes to lead the distribution of aid to families affected by Super Typhoon Uwan. According to the DSWD, a total of 600,000 family food packs and more than 21,000 ready-to-eat food boxes have been distributed to areas affected by the consecutive typhoons.

Meanwhile, Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Ted Herbosa has traveled to Leyte to oversee relief and medical operations in the municipalities of Silago, Hinunangan, St. Bernard, Sogod, and Bontoc.

“Prayoridad ni Secretary Herbosa ang personal na mabantayan at masiguro ang kalusugan ng mga residenteng apektado ng Tino at Uwan,” said Castro.

The DOH continues to distribute medicines and nutritional commodities to affected communities in Leyte, with PhP8.2 million worth of logistics allocated for the entire region.

Secretary Herbosa also visited the Leyte Emergency Operations Center to check on healthcare workers.

“Ayon sa Kalihim, prayoridad ni Pangulong Marcos Jr. ang pangangalaga sa mga medical responders na apektado rin ng mga nagdaang bagyo,” said Castro.

Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara also visited Negros Occidental, where he met with regional officials to assess the condition of school facilities.

Secretary Angara said the President instructed him to personally inspect the affected schools and monitor the situation of students affected by the back-to-back storms.

Castro added that Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco was also tasked to assess the impact of the typhoons on local tourism.

“Ayon sa Kalihim, ito’y para alamin ang lawak ng pinsala, bigyan ito ng agarang solusyon at mag-abot ng tulong sa mga nasalantang komunidad,” said Castro.

Lastly, Castro said Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Sharon Garin also monitored areas where the two typhoons traversed to ensure the stability of power supply in the affected provinces.

“Sa ilalim ng administrasyon ni Pangulong Marcos Jr., palaging una ang kapakanan at kabutihan ng taumbayan lalong-lalo na sa mga oras ng sakuna,” Castro said. | PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s prompt action has led to the swift restoration of power supply and cellular connectivity in most areas affected by Super Typhoon Uwan, Malacañang said on Tuesday.

In a Palace press briefing, Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said over 60 percent of typhoon-hit areas have regained power.

“Mabilis na aksyon ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., nagbunga ng agarang solusyon sa supply ng kuryente at cell sites sa mga binagyong lugar,” Castro said.

“Dahil sa aktibong aksyon ni Pangulong Marcos Jr. sa mga lugar na tinamaan ng Super Typhoon Uwan, umabot na sa mahigit 60 percent ng mga apektadong lugar ang naibalik ang supply ng kuryente,” Castro added.

Citing data from the Department of Energy (DOE), Castro said electricity has been restored to 454 out of 712 municipalities affected by Super Typhoon Uwan.

Castro added that restoration efforts are ongoing for over three million consumer connections affected by bad weather.

“Nagpapatuloy din ang DOE sa pagbabantay sa 60 electric cooperatives na tinamaan ng bagyo,” Castro said.

According to the DOE, Super Typhoon Uwan’s damage in the energy sector has reached more than PhP4 million.

Meanwhile, in telecommunications, Castro said the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is working to ensure the prompt return of communication services in affected areas.

As of 8 a.m. Tuesday, DICT reported that Smart Communications has restored services in 82 percent of affected areas; Globe Telecom, 77 percent; Dito Telecommunity, 63 percent; and Converge, 79 percent. | PND

Inatasan ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ngayong Lunes ang lahat ng ahensya ng gobyerno na ipagpatuloy ang pagtulong sa mga residenteng apektado, kasunod ng pananalasa ng Super Bagyong Uwan.

Pinangunahan ni Pangulong Marcos ang mga pagsisikap sa pagtugon sa kalamidad habang pinamunuan niya ang isang briefing tungkol sa epekto ng Super Bagyong Uwan na ginanap sa Presidential Security Command (PSC) Command Operations Center sa Malacañang.

Inutusan ni PBBM ang lahat ng ahensya na patuloy na subaybayan ang epekto ng super bagyo hanggang Martes, kabilang na ang Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) at Department of Health (DOH) para siguraduhing mayroong mga medical team na magagamit para sa mga lumikas.

Inatasan din ni Pangulong Marcos ang Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) na simulan na ang rehabilitasyon ng mga nasirang kalsada sa lalong madaling panahon upang mapadali ang mga operasyon ng pagtulong.

Kasabay nito, pinaalalahanan din ni Pangulong Marcos ang lahat ng mga ahensya na ituloy na ang mga kasalukuyang pagsisikap na tugunan ang mga epekto ng Bagyong Tino kasabay ng Super Bagyong Uwan.

Pinuri naman ni Pangulong Marcos ang mga epektibong hakbang sa paghahanda, matapos kumpirmahin ng Office of Civil Defense (OCD) na ang mga pagsisikap sa preemptive evacuation para sa 426,000 pamilya ang lubos na nagpababa sa bilang ng mga nasawi.

Sa briefing, iniulat ng OCD na ang Pangasinan ang pinakamalubhang naapektuhan ng malawakang pagbaha, bagama’t nagsimula nang humupa ang tubig-baha.

Sinabi ng OCD na kinukumpirma pa nila ang ulat na may dalawang kumpirmadong patay at dalawa pa na bine-validate habang patuloy ang mga operasyon ng pagsagip.

Samantala, 71 kalsada ang naiulat na kasalukuyang hindi madaanan sa buong Central Luzon (Region III), lalawigan ng Aurora, at Cordillera Administrative Region partikular sa Mountain Province, Benguet, at Apayao.

May kabuuang 155 ang naitalang pagkawala ng kuryente, karamihan sa rehiyon ng Ilocos (Region I), bagama’t 15 na ang naibalik.

Sa lalawigan ng Aurora, isang lugar ang na-isolate dahil sa mga landslide habang isang kalsada ang naputol sa kahabaan ng national road mula Dipaculao hanggang Casiguran.

Samantala, patuloy namang sinusubaybayan ng DSWD ang mga operasyon ng paglikas at ang kalagayan ng mga lumikas.

Ayon sa DSWD, ang rehiyon ng Bicol ang may pinakamaraming pamilya nasa mga evacuation center dahil 100,050 pamilya ang apektado sa rehiyon, kabilang ang 44,000 apektadong pamilya sa lalawigan ng Camarines Sur.

Samantala, humigit-kumulang 20,000 pamilya naman ang apektado sa lalawigan ng Quezon.

Inihayag naman ng DSWD na dahil ang mga lumikas ay preemptively evacuated, inaasahan silang makababalik sa kanilang mga tahanan sa sandaling humupa ang tubig-baha.

Noong Sabado, habang papalapit ang Super Bagyong Uwan sa Hilagang Luzon, inilagay ni Pangulong Marcos ang lahat ng ahensya ng gobyerno sa full alert upang matiyak ang kaligtasan ng publiko.

Bukod sa pagsasagawa ng preemptive evacuation, ang gobyerno ay naglagay ng mga rescue vehicle at relief goods sa mga lugar na may mataas na panganib. | PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday directed all government agencies to sustain assistance to affected residents, immediately following the onslaught of Super Typhoon Uwan.

President Marcos oversaw disaster response efforts as he presided over a situation briefing on the impact of Super Typhoon Uwan held at the Presidential Security Command (PSC) Command Operations Center in Malacañang.

Directing all agencies to continue closely monitoring the impact of the super typhoon until Tuesday, the President ordered the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Department of Health (DOH) to continue providing assistance and ensure that medical teams are available to evacuees.

The Chief Executive also instructed the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to start the rehabilitation of damaged roads at the soonest possible time to facilitate relief operations.

At the same time, President Marcos reminded all concerned agencies to sustain ongoing efforts addressing the impacts of Typhoon Tino concurrently with Super Typhoon Uwan.

President Marcos remarked on the effective preparedness measures, as the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) confirmed that preemptive evacuation efforts for 426,000 families has significantly minimized casualties.

During the situation briefing, the OCD reported that Pangasinan was the most severely affected by massive flooding, although floodwaters have started subsiding.

The OCD said it is confirming reports of fatalities as a result of Super Typhoon Uwan, with two confirmed deaths and two others for validation while rescue operations are still ongoing.

Meanwhile, 71 roads were reported currently impassable across Central Luzon (Region III), Aurora province, and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) particularly in the Mountain Province, Benguet, and Apayao.

A total of 155 power interruptions were recorded, mostly in the Ilocos region (Region I), although 15 were already restored.

In Aurora province, one area was isolated due to landslides while a road was cut off along the national road from Dipaculao to Casiguran.

Meanwhile, the DSWD continues to monitor evacuation operations and the status of evacuees.

The DSWD said the Bicol region had the most number of families in evacuation centers as 100,050 families were affected in the region, including 44,000 affected families in Camarines Sur province.

Meanwhile, some 20,000 families were affected in Quezon province.

According to the DSWD, since the evacuees were preemptively evacuated, they are expected to return to their homes once the floodwaters have receded.

On Saturday, as Super Typhoon Uwan was approaching Northern Luzon, President Marcos placed all government agencies on full alert to ensure public safety.

Aside from undertaking preemptive evacuation, the government has prepositioned rescue vehicles and relief goods in high-risk areas. | PND

Malacañang issued Executive Order No. 105, extending the 15 percent tax on imported rice until December 31, 2025, and establishing the Inter-Agency Group on Rice Tariff Adjustment to monitor and adjust rice import taxes in response to changes in world market prices.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s EO 105 also provides for tariff adjustments, effective January 1, 2026, based on movements in international rice prices, with rates ranging from 15 to 35 percent.

“Section 2 provides that the MFN (Most Favored Nation) rates of duty on rice, both in-quota and out-quota, under EO No. 62 (modifying the nomenclature and rates of import duty on various products) shall be maintained until 31 December 2025,” EO 105 added.

The order provides that “beginning 01 January 2026, the MFN rates of duty on rice shall be: increased by five (5) percentage points per five percent (5%) decrease in international rice prices; or decreased by five (5) percentage points per five percent (5%) increase in international rice prices.”

“However, the MFN rates of duty on rice, both in-quota and out-quota, shall in no case be below 15% or above 35%,” EO 105 stated.

The directive also added that Inter-Agency GRTA shall be composed of representatives from the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev), the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Finance, and the Office of the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs.

The Inter-Agency Group was directed to formulate the guidelines necessary to implement this Order, including the determination of the thresholds, certification by the DA that said thresholds or trigger price levels have been reached, monitoring period, and other relevant details regarding the adjustment of the MFN rates of duty on rice.

The Constitution provides that the State shall pursue a trade policy that serves the general welfare and Republic Act (RA) No. 10863 or the “Customs Modernization and Tariff Act” empowers the President, in the interest of general welfare and national security…to increase or reduce at any level and/or remove existing rates of import duty, in one or several stages.

RA No. 8178 or the “Agricultural Tariffication Act,” authorizes the President to increase, reduce, revise, or adjust existing rates of import duty up to the bound rate committed by the Philippines under the World Trade Agreement on Agriculture and the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement, including any necessary change in classification applicable to the importation of rice.

EO 62 set forth the MFN tariff rates on rice at 15% for both in-quota and out-quota, subject to review every four months.

The Economy and Development (ED) Council resolved to maintain the MFN tariff rate on rice at 15% until 31 December 2025, both for in-quota and out-quota, and to implement a mechanism for adjusting the MFN tariff rate on rice in accordance with international market conditions starting 1 January 2026.- PND