DPWH kick-starts P100-M flood control projects in Calbayog City

By CHENZI MAY D. UY
August 29, 2019

CALBAYOG CITY – Department of Public Works and Highways Samar First District Engineering Office (DPWH-SFDEO) has started construction of three (3) flood control structures along two rivers in Calbayog City, Samar.

A net amount of 100 million pesos will be spent on these projects based on the approved General Appropriations Act (GAA) of 2019.

Two of said river control structures, totalling 417.5 linear meters, are being constructed along sections of Jibatang River, specifically in barangays Capacuhan and Cabugawan. The other one, which measures 240 linear meters, can be found along the river in Barangay Sinidman.

Jibatang River is a 34.13-kilometer-long stream that traverses twenty-six (26) barangays in Calbayog City. Based on interviews with locals, recent typhoons such as Typhoon Amang in 2015 and Typhoon Usman in 2018 have brought non-stop torrential rains that caused the flood waters rising up to two meters or above.

Needless to say, river control structures are critical to the protection of lives and properties within the immediate vicinity of the river. In 2018, DPWH built a total of 1,760.50 linear meters of flood control structures along Jibatang River alone, but more such structures are still needed to further mitigate flooding incidents in nearby villages.

The currently ongoing projects will directly benefit around 1,365 locals in Cabugawan and Capacuhan and over 800 people in Sinidman.

Project implementation is right on track, and the district office is expecting completion within the prescribed timeframe.