DPWH to Push for Comprehensive Flood Control Program in Central Luzon

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is presently working on the development of design plan for the first major project proposal under President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. administration to curb flooding in Pampanga and Bulacan.

In his report to DPWH Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan, Senior Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain said that the planning and engineering consulting firm Woodfields Consultants Inc. was commissioned by DPWH to undertake the comprehensive formulation of effective and efficient plan for the Pampanga River Basin in Central Luzon, one of the areas most frequently affected by flooding.

Senior Undersecretary Sadain in his meeting with Woodfields consultants emphasized the need to come up with one (1) whole plan for Central Luzon – Pampanga River Floodway Flood Control Project with retarding swamp in San Antonio Swamp and the Pampanga Delta Development Program Phase 2.

The meeting on September 9, 2022 at the satellite office of DPWH Unified Project Management Office – Flood Control Management Cluster in Sulipan, Apalit, Pampanga was also participated by DPWH UPMO Project Director Rodrigo I. Delos Reyes; UPMO Project Managers Isabelita Manalo, Edgar Jiao, and Edison Olalia; and Project Manager Maximo Bulanadi of Woodfields Consultants Inc.

Widening of river channels and construction of viaduct, dikes, revetment works, cut-off channel, control weirs, floodgates and sluicegates are proposed engineering interventions to mitigate and prevent flood damages brought about by the incursion of river waters to communities.

The project components of the proposed flood control plan with design consideration of 100-year flood return period will capture the entire flood mitigation for Centfal Luzon from Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, and Bulacan, added Senior Undersecretary Sadain.

Situated in Central Luzon, the Pampanga River Basin from the mouth of Manila Bay traverses the provinces of Pampanga, Nueva Ecija and Bulacan. Other major river network connected to Pampanga River Basin are Talavera River, Rio Chico River, Pantabangan River, Colonel River, Peñaranda River, Sacobia River, San Miguel River and Angat River.

Officials of the Korea Eximbank, in their courtesy visit at the DPWH Central Office last August, has earlier expressed Korean government’s interest to support President Marcos administration’s pipeline projects by increasing their Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) Official Development Assistance.