Flood control projects for Leyte rivers in the pipeline

TACLOBAN CITY, Jan. 18 (PNA) – With the heavy rains experienced in the past few days, officials of the second Leyte engineering district (2nd LED) of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) see the need to mitigate the effects of inundation through flood control projects.

In the pipeline for 2017 is PHP61- million worth of flood control projects in major river and waterways in Leyte’s second legislative district.

Six major flood control projects will start this year, according to district engineer Carlos Veloso.

This include the drainage systems along Socsocon, Arabunog-Sapsap and flood control project Malirong, all of the Municipality of Pastrana. These three projects has a combined total budget of PHP18 million.

Rehabilitation and reconstruction of Binahaan River along Tingib, Pastrana is also scheduled this year, with a budget of PHP25.4 million.

The Malirong river flood control in Guindapuan, also in Pastrana , gets PHP9.5 million while the Anonang River flood control in Burauen town gets PHP8.19 million.

Veloso said these projects will be completed this year.

Although floods are natural phenomena, human activities and human interventions into the processes of nature, such as alterations in the drainage patterns from urbanization, agricultural practices and deforestation, have considerably changed the situation in river basins.

At the same time, exposure to risk and vulnerability in flood-prone areas have been growing constantly, it was noted.

Veloso advised that with the infrastructure being put in place to mitigate the hazards of flooding, non-structural measures should likewise be enforced such as strengthening the flood information and warning system, and relocating people living along the river lines. (PNA)
FPV/SQM/AHLETTE C. REYES/EGR