Posted on August 4, 2025
MANILA — MMDA Chairman Don Artes has expressed support for the initiative of Biñan City Rep. Arman Dimaguila to conduct dredging operations in Laguna de Bay, saying it is among the ways to keep the lake from overflowing onto coastal communities.
Artes — a resident of Barangay Malaban in Biñan City, one of the areas frequently flooded due to the overflow of Laguna de Bay—said that dredging would greatly help increase the lake’s capacity to hold water.
“Talagang heavily silted na ang Laguna de Bay (Laguna de Bay is already really heavily silted),” Artes said.
He said that aside from dredging, the proposed Parañaque Spillway that has gone through several feasibility studies but has yet to be implemented.
“So, puwedeng gawin pareho para ma-increase yung capacity ng Laguna de Bay at makahold ng maraming tubig particularly yung nangggagaling ng Sierra Madre Mountain,” he said.
(Both can be done to increase Laguna de Bay’s capacity to hold water, especially from the Sierra Madre Mountain Range)
First proposed in 1975, the spillway was seen as too costly both financially and socially and was set aside, according to an Environmental Impact Assessment in 2022.
“The Parañaque Spillway alone could not completely eradicate flooding at the entire lakeshore area however, by controlling the lake water level, it may reduce the inundation depth within the lakeshore area thus, shortening the inundation period and inundation damage,” the assessment also reads.
Overflow from Laguna de Bay affects parts of Laguna province as well as cities in Metro Manila like Muntinlupa and Taguig.
HOUSE TO HOLD HEARINGS ON FLOODING
In a press conference on Sunday, August 3, Rep. Dimaguila said he welcomes President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s candor during the State of the Nation Address in acknowledging the failure of some flood control projects.
“Sinabi niya na ‘natuto na tayo’. So, basically, admission iyon na may problema,” Dimaguila said.
(He said ‘we have learned’. So, basically it was an admission that there is a problem)
Following last year’s SONA, Biñan and surrounding areas suffered from flash floods, an irony Dimaguila pointed out.
Weeks before the latest impact of monsoon rains and cyclones, Dimaguila filed a resolution at the House on July 8 to summon concerned agencies, especially Department of Public Works and Highways, Laguna Lake Development Authority, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, to present a coordinated and science-based master plan for Laguna de Bay rehabilitation and disaster risk reduction.
He believes dredging the lake is a necessary step to restore its depth and water-holding capacity, which has been severely diminished by decades of neglect and pollution.
He proposes that the removed silt be transported away from water pathways and reused as filling material or garden soil.
‘SUBDIVISIONS, FISHPENS CONTRIBUTE TO FLOODING PROBLEM’
Dimaguila also warned against unregulated fish pens owned by powerful people.
“Siguro naman e’, kumita na sila. Pagpahingahin naman natin ang Laguna Lake,” he said.
(Maybe they have made enough money and they can allow the lake to recover)
He also raised the possibility of a moratorium on new subdivisions in upland areas of Laguna, saying unregulated land development contributes to surface runoff and poor drainage.
“Kahit anong gawin nating flood control kung patuloy ang land development sa maling lugar, lalo lang lalala ang problema,” Dimaguila said.
(Our flood control efforts will not stop the problem as long as land development in places where there shouldn’t be continues)
Beyond dredging, Dimaguila is advocating for structural solutions like the long-delayed spillway project and stricter housing regulations near the lake. He also floated the idea of a caucus among CALABARZON legislators to collectively push for flood mitigation and lake rehabilitation.
