DILG project curbs flooding in Leyte town

MAHAPLAG, Leyte, April 12  -- Families near the riverbanks now feel more secured after the completion of PHP12.5-million flood control project funded by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Nelia Ritana, 54, whose house is situated near the river bank said that she could go to bed peacefully even during rainy nights because of the flood control project.

“Even if there is a storm and flooding, I’m no longer worried because this structure is protecting us. I don’t have to get up to see the river water level outside,” Ritana said.

The flood control project is not only designed to protect residents near the Layug River, but to prevent flooding at the town center of Mahaplag as well.

Construction of the flood control project is one of the priority projects of the local government, said Erwin Walis, the town’s planning and development officer.

Layug River water flow had diverted the water course and destroyed some coconut plantations. Since 1980s the river has changed its course three times.

“If we don’t have this project, maybe the whole town center would eventually be washed out. The initial plan of the local government was to loan at the Department of Finance through the municipal development fund worth PHP47 million, then later DILG came with PHP12.5 million and the Department of Public Works and Highways provided more funds as well,” Walis said.

Village chief Carolina Bonafe said that before the flood control project, the more than 4,000 residents had to move to higher grounds during heavy rains.

“After this flood control project was built late early this year, villagers just stayed in their houses even if there is flooding, but they continue to monitor the water level,” Bonafe told reporters during the project inspection on Thursday.

Walis said the local government has already submitted a proposal to extend the flood control project by 300 meters to the provincial government and another 400 meters requested to the DPWH.

Mahaplag, a fourth class town in the southern part of Leyte province, is about 92 kilometers from Tacloban City, the regional capital.

The flood control project is part of DILG’s Assistance to Disadvantaged Municipalities (ADM) program covering 1,373 towns nationwide.

The ADM program provides a "catch-up mechanism" to assist municipal governments in increasing citizens' access to basic facilities and ensures participation of civil society organizations in local governance. (SQM/PNA)