River dike, dam projects in Cagayan de Oro, Bukidnon okayed

THE proposed construction of a river dike in Cagayan de Oro River and Sabo Dam in San Isidro Talakag, Bukidnon will soon be realized after the Regional Development Council (RDC) Advisory Committee approved its construction and the corresponding appropriation.

Cagayan de Oro Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez (2nd District) said one of the identified mitigating measures to protect lives and properties is the construction of flood control system both at the upstream and downstream portion of the Cagayan de Oro River.

Rodriguez sponsored a legislative measure for these projects with the corresponding funds, which was then approved by the committee during the last National Economic Development Authority-RDC meeting held at the House of Representatives.

When Tropical Storm Sendong hit Cagayan de Oro in 2011, at least 41 barangays in the city were affected that resulted in damages and losses to housing, health, education, roads, flood control and water system estimated at P1.1 billion.

Because of this, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) had proposed for the construction of River Dike and Sabo Dam, both estimated to cost P3.3 billion.

The seven-kilometer River Dike spans from Taguanao Bridge to Sitio Cala-Cala in Barangay Macasandig up to Puntod, Macabalan, which will cost P355 million per kilometer.

The committee has recommended to the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (DRMMC), Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) and the Office of the President the approval of the construction of the two projects and the appropriating funds.

Rodriguez said among those who signed the approval were Arsenio Sebastian III, co-chairperson of RDC-Northern Mindanao, private sector representative; Iligan City Mayor Lawrence Cruz, chairperson RDC; and Rep. Vicente Belmonte, lone district of Iligan City.