DPWH fast-tracks flood-control project in Tagoloan

TAGOLOAN, Misamis Oriental – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is fast tracking the construction of two dikes along the Tagoloan River, worth R776 million, meant to protect thousands of residents from incidents of flooding in the future.

The Flood Risk Management Project for Tagoloan River is funded by the Official Development Assistance from the Government of Japan, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The project consists of the Tagoloan River Sub-project – Stage I (Upstream) in Barangay Sta. Cruz and the Tagoloan River Sub-project - Stage I (Downstream) in Barangay Sta. Cruz and a small section in Barangay Tambobong, Villanueva town.

It is being implemented by the DPWH’s Unified Project Management Office for Flood Control Management Cluster (UPMO-FCMC) headed by Project Director Patrick B. Gatan, under DPWH Undersecretary for Operations Emil K. Sadain.

To fast track the project, work for Stage I, which has a length of 642 meters, has started with the construction of flood protection dike, excavation of towhead area and drainage 1 sluiceway.

Stage 2 (Downstream Section), which consists of 1,927 meters long, included undergoing construction of dike embankment with revetment and partition walls, excavation of river channel, drainage improvement and two drainage sluiceway.

The UPMO-FCMC, said DPWH constructed flood protection dikes on both sides of the Tagoloan River from 1994 to 2002 for prevention of inundation. However, the construction of the necessary diking system was only 50 percent complete due to budgetary constraints.

“The main flood mitigation works is to complete the dike system in the lower Tagoloan River Basin. With completed flood protection system, it is expected that the target areas will further be developed and urbanized,” it said in a report.