Wednesday, November 19, 2008 Dam to be put up in Camiguin
THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is eyeing to build a state of the art dam in Camiguin Province that would ensure the safety of the public during occurrence of natural disasters such as volcanic eruption and typhoons.
The project involves the construction of Sabo dam, worth P300-million to be funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) in coordination with the department and the Camiguin Provincial Government.
Governor Jurdin Jesus Romualdo said the Jica-assisted project would also help in the government's flood disaster mitigation in their province.
"With this new project, the sabo dams will filter the debris coming from the top of the mountains until just water flow out to the roads. It will filter all the rubble until even the impact of the water that goes downstream is reduced gradually. From what the JBIC team told me, this will be a first of its kind, and experimental model and they want to do it here in the Philippines. This is a very ambitious undertaking but it is sure to save many lives," he said.
Camiguin, being marketed by the Provincial Government as an island born of fire, actually sits on four young stratovolcanoes lying atop older volcanic structures, which include Mt. Vulcan, Mt. Mambajao, Mt. Ginsiliban, and Mt. Uhay. There are also domes and cones at Campana Hill, Minokol Hill, Tres Marias Hill, Mt. Carling, Mt. Tibane, and Piyakong Hill.
The governor added that since of the island's topography, heavy rains are frequent in the area and so are flashfloods.
"There are times when heavy rains will continue for one week straight so we are very prone to flooding," Romualdo said. He added that there was even an instance wherein a huge boulder fell from the mountains and caused a major roadblock in the area.
The JBIC is expected to send a team to the province early next year for the signing of the memorandum of agreement (MOA).
The main components of the project include the construction of two sabo dams in the Pontod River, and the restoration of the Hubagnon Bridge. (FP/Sunnex)
