By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos | Philippine News Agency
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday instructed concerned government agencies and local government units to ensure the completion of flood-mitigation projects that will minimize the impact of natural disasters.
“Para sa mga ahensiya ng gobyerno at lokal na pamahalaan, siguruhin natin na matapos ang mga proyektong ito upang maibsan ang panganib at pinsalang dulot ng madalas na pagbaha,” Marcos said during the distribution of presidential assistance to farmers and fisherfolk Ilagan City, Isabela.
“Sa bawat solusyon, dapat naman ay may agarang aksiyon para sa mas malawak na proteksiyon,” he added.
Marcos assured the government is exhausting all efforts to mitigate the effects of disasters due to the increasing intensity of typhoons caused by climate change.
Marcos said a review of the master plans for major river basins in the country, such as the Cagayan River Basin, is underway.
He noted that construction is ongoing for the flood control project along the Pinacanauan de Tumauini River in Cagayan, known as the Tumauini River Multipurpose Project.
The project is expected to irrigate 8,200 hectares of agricultural land and benefit 5,860 farmers.
Marcos said the government is also working on the rehabilitation of the four-decade-old Magat Dam in Ramon, Isabela.
“Napakaimportante po [nito] sa agrikultura ng Pilipinas,” he said. “Hindi lang flood control po ito, ito rin po ay makakatulong sa patubig ng mga pananim ng ating mga magsasaka.”
The Marcos Jr. Administration is putting a premium on flood control structures, irrigation systems, and rehabilitation initiatives on major river basins and dams in Cagayan Valley, one of the worst-hit by the recent typhoons.
Flood control structures along the Cagayan River, particularly in the towns of Roxas and Sta. Maria in Isabela, have already been completed.
The structures are expected to protect riverbank areas by diverting water flow and slowing down natural changes in embankments and coastlines. They will also serve as access roads to nearby agricultural lands.
Meanwhile, the Balasig Small Reservoir Irrigation Project, which is designed to enhance flood mitigation, would also provide reliable irrigation water in Isabela utilizing the Balasig River.
The Tuguegarao Circumferential Dike Road Project, which is being built to protect nearby communities by stabilizing riverbank soil and increasing river drainage capacity, is also being monitored.