DPWH works on Cagayan, Tagoloan, Imus rivers to prevent flooding

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has started flood control work on “critical portions” of 3 major rivers across the country.

The P356-million worth flood-risk management project involves “full-scale improvement works” on:

• Cagayan River in Tuguegarao City
• Tagoloan River in Misamis Oriental
• Imus River in Cavite

These priority areas were identified by the Japan International Cooperation Agency in two studies, DPWH project office director Patrick Gatan said in a statement on Monday, July 11.

Here are the specific works that the government engineers will be doing on each river system:

Cagayan River Basin – bank protection works, mainly installation of revetments (or retaining walls) for the Alibago and Catanggaman revetments, and the Catanggaman spur dike. These sites have been damaged the most when at least 8 typhoons hit the area every year.

Tagoloan River – dike system, drainage improvement, drainage channel, and excavation. The river bank has been eroded over time, bringing floods to an of about 1,300 hectares around the river.

Imus River – construction of dike, drainage sluice, and retarding basins (the river runs from Anabu to Buhay na Tubig). Flooding caused by the river in 2006 and 2013 damaged infrastructure, crops, livestock, and fisheries.

The flood-risk management project started last April, and will be completed by March 2019, the DPWH said. – Rappler.com