The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is now implementing the P356 million Flood-risk management project for Cagayan River, Tagoloan River, and Imus River (FRIMP-CTI) in Regions 2, 10, and 4-A respectively.
In a report, DPWH Unified Project Management Office-Flood Control Management Cluster (UPMO-FCMC) Director Patrick B. Gatan said full-scale improvement works composed of structural and non-structural measures have commenced on the critical portions of mentioned rivers identified by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) as priority areas for flood-risk mitigation.
A JICA-assisted study entitled “The Preparatory Study for Sector Loan on Disaster Risk Management in the Republic of the Philippines” identified Cagayan River in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan and Tagoloan River in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental as priority river basins while a separate study entitled “The Study on Comprehensive Flood Mitigation for Cavite Lowland Areas in the Republic of the Philippines”, identified Imus River in Barangay Abanu I-G and Barangay Buhay na Tubig in Imus City, Cavite as one of the principal rivers for the implementation of flood-control projects.
In the Cagayan River Basin, where typhoons usually occur during July-December, about 8 times a year, DPWH will be implementing bank protection works, mainly installation of revetments for most commonly damaged sites namely: Alibago and Catanggaman Revetment, and Catanggaman Spur dike in Tuguegarao City.
River bank erosion associated with sediment deposition that causes flooding to area of about 1,300 hectares in Tagoloan River in Misamis Oriental will also be addressed once DPWH finishes project composed of dike system, drainage improvement, drainage channel, as well as non-structural intervention like excavation.
For Imus River in Cavite, DPWH will build dike, drainage sluice, and retarding basins in Imus City and Bacoor City areas. This will prevent the reoccurrence of 2006 and 2013 flooding in the lower reaches that led to immeasurable damages to thousands of affected residents, crops and fisheries, livestock and infrastructure.
The Flood-risk management project for Cagayan River, Tagoloan River, and Imus River (FRIMP-CTI), which commenced in April 2016, will be completed by March 2019.