THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) will conduct a joint study to create a Davao River masterplan.
The study will determine measures and projects needed to lessen the damage caused by flooding due to increased water level of the river during the rainy season.
DPWH-Davao spokesperson Dean Ortiz, said the study was announced by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio during her State of the City Address (Soca) on Tuesday, September 12, identifying the critical zone areas of flooding in the city.
Ortiz said the coverage of the study will be on the water level status of Davao River on different weather conditions as well as the existing flood control structures around it. It will also include the Matina-Pangi River and Talomo River as these rivers increase its water levels during heavy rainfall.
"The city already has flood control structures built by the local government unit and other national government agencies but it still does not cover the whole length of the river and some were not maintained," he said.
Ortiz said Jica and the DPWH Davao region will also look into the existing drainage system in the city in coordination with the Davao City Engineer's Office (CEO).
"We have to study and trace all the rivers and the drainage of our city so that we can see what really is the problem, and how we can solve it," he said.
The study will start between the first and second quarter of next year and its study duration will run from six months to one year.