P-noy approves Panay River basin flood control project

ROXAS CITY, Capiz – President Aquino has endorsed the construction of a multi-billion Panay River Basin Flood Control Project to solve the perennial flooding in the provinces of Panay Island in Western Visayas.

Capiz Gov. Victor Tanco said the President committed to support the project during his recent visit here.

“We are pushing for that (construction of the flood control project). We are now looking for foreign funding agencies (to bankroll the project),” Tanco told defense reporters.

Tanco said he informed the President that they would need P4.9 billion for the initial phase of the project.

He said the President in turn gave assurance that the funding requirement would be discussed.

Tanco said they are also eyeing South Korea as a possible funding source for the project.

He said the flood control project was supposed to be funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency but the institution backed out after a tsunami hit Tokyo last year.

“It (flood) is ruining our seafood industry. That’s our number one problem because it destroys our agriculture fishery, the flood destroys our infrastructure, it destroys lives and property,” Tanco said.

The governor, nevertheless, said measures are underway to mitigate the impact of destructive floods and other kinds of disasters.

“We have strengthened and organized our disaster risk reduction and management office. Now, we are prepared with all the equipment, we have trained all our volunteers for any calamity that will arise,” Tanco said.

– Jaime Laude, Alexis Romero