THE Unified Project Management Office (UPMO) of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is fast-tracking the completion of the P667 million river dike project in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental.
The DPWH wants the project, now about 44 percent complete, finished before the start of the rainy season.
The DPWH said the Flood Risk Management Project (FRIMP) for the Tagoloan River Basin Sub-project has adopted the integrated flood mitigation approach with the implementation of both structural and non-structural measures against flooding hazards.
The embankment, being implemented under the operation control of the Unified Project Management Office for Flood Control Management Cluster (UPMO-FCMC), is funded by the Official Development Assistance from the Japanese government through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Project field implementation team head, Engineer Alejandro Sosa, Project Manager and concurrent Regional Project Manager for DPWH-Northern Mindanao, said he and Engineer Roy Quilaton, project engineer III of UPMO-FCMC, DPWH-Northern Mindanao, have been directed by Engineer Patrick Gatan, project director of UPMO-FCMC, upon instructions from Undersecretary for UPMO Operations Emil Sadain, to hasten the completion of the project, consisting of Stage 1 (upstream section) and Stage 2 (downstream section).
During the 7th meeting of Flood Mitigation Committee (FMC) for the Tagoloan River Sub-project recently, Sosa explained that the structural measures aim to reduce the magnitude of flood hazard through the construction of flood protection dike, excavation of towhead area and on drainage sluiceway in Stage 1 in Barangay Sta. Cruz, as well as dike embankment with revetment and partition walls, excavation of river channel, drainage improvement and two drainage sluiceway in Stage in the same barangay and a small section in Barangay Tambobong, in Villanueva town.
It can be recalled that on December 29, 2014, Typhoon Senyang damaged parts of Tagoloan and other Misamis Oriental towns, affecting 3,422 families with more than 200 houses damaged due to the flooding. Crop damages reached P34.3 million while livestock loss was pegged at P346,850. Destruction to infrastructure was estimated at P10.53 million.
“With about 44.62 percent overall accomplishment, as of June 16, 2017, both projects are expected to be fully completed in March 2019,” Sosa said.
The project consultants, headed by Shuji Kaku, represented by Engr. Alberto Adrias, emphasized during the FMC meeting, that the measures are meant to complement the structural measures of the project by reducing the vulnerability of the residents from the impact of the hazards.
Flood hazard mapping and updating, enhancement of flood monitoring and flood warning system, preparation of evacuation plan and conduct of information, education and communication campaign in Sta. Cruz are some of the non-structural measures being implemented under the project, which is in coordination with the Tagoloan Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO).
The FMC is a coordinating body that assists in handling issues and other concerns related to the project implementation in its pre-construction, construction and post-construction stages. It is envisioned to be primarily responsible with the sustainability of structural and non-structural measures of the project when it is turned over the local government unit.
The FMC was formed not only in the Tagoloan River Sub-project but also in Cagayan and Imus Sub-projects under JICA loan agreement no. PH-P253.
Co-chairing the FMC for the Tagoloan river dike project is town mayor Heckert Hernando Jude Emano, with the municipal engineer, MDRRMO of Tagoloan, as well as representatives from the DPWH Misamis Oriental’s 2nd District Engineering Office and the DPWH regional office as members.
Emano, in the recent FMC meeting, has commended the DPWH for hastening the project. Upon its completion, the LGU will assume the chairmanship of the FMC.
Aside from ensuring the structural and non-structural measures of the project are up to speed, the FMC also provides the needed support in the implementation of the project that will eventually protect lives and properties of the more than 3,000 household living near the Tagoloan River from future flooding.
The FMC also aims to protect the river area from illegal settlers and illegal structure in addition to sustain the structural non-structural measures initiated by the project.