By Brian Campued
The building of the Bicol River Basin Development Project (BRBDP) will commence in the first quarter of 2025 to solve the flooding woes in the region amid climate change, according to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
Speaking during the aid distribution event in Legazpi, Albay on Wednesday, the President said the final engineering design of the actual building is currently being drawn for construction.
“Sa kasalukuyan, inaayos na ang detailed engineering design [ng Bicol River Basin Development Project] na inaasahang masisimulan sa first quarter ng susunod na taon,” Marcos said.
“Next year… pagpasok ng New Year na 2025 ay masisimulan na natin itong ating mga ginawang plano para hindi na ganito kalala ang pagbabaha sa Bicol River Basin,” he added.
The President said he has tasked the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government to closely coordinate with the local government to ensure integrated and future-proof implementation of the plans for the Bicol River Basin project.
“Nagbigay ako ng direktiba sa bawat ahensiya ng gobyerno na gumawa ng mga estratehiyang akma sa ating pangmalawakang matinding pagbaha at maiwasan na ang ganiyang klaseng baha sa kabila ng inaasahang pagbabago ng panahon,” he said.
The master plan and the feasibility study for the project was finished in July and now includes adaptive measures for climate change.
The DPWH, along with the Department of Transportation, Department of Trade and Industry, and other concerned agencies were also instructed to ensure the quality, safety, and durability of materials used for infrastructure projects.
“Sa DPWH, DOTr, DTI, at iba pang ahensiya ng pamahalaan, tiyakin ninyong de-kalidad, ligtas, at matibay ang mga materyales na gagamitin sa pagpapatayo ng mga imprastruktura natin. Sa gayon, magtatagal at maaasahan ito anuman ang panahon,” the President said during his visit to Legazpi City, Albay.
—iro