Laoag flood control

DPWH reports completion of Laoag flood control project
by Cristina Arzadon
PIA Press Release 06/05/2006
http://www.pia.gov.ph/news.asp?fi=p060605.htm&no=51

LAOAG CITY (5 June) -- The Department of Public Works and Highways said residents in this capital city and nearby San Nicolas town can expect to be flood-free during the typhoon period with the completion of a floodwall system along the Laoag River.

The floodwall, stretching from barangay Nalbo here to nearby San Nicolas, is part of a dike structure that the DPWH had started constructing along the Laoag River last year.

Pres. Macapagal-Arroyo identified the three-year Laoag river basin flood control and sabo dam project as a priority by tapping the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) to fund the program. The project is expected to be completed in 2008.

Ryuichiro Yamazaki, Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines, made a two-day visit to this capital city last week to check the status of the flood control project and other infrastructures built under the Official Development Assistance program.

Arroyo has declared July 23 as Philippine-Japan Friendship Day while this year marks the 50th commemoration of the resumption of diplomatic relations between the two countries after second World War.

Yamazaki met briefly with Laoag Mayor Michael Fariñas and Ilocos Norte Vice Gov. Windell Chua last Friday before motoring to the different project sites around the province.

Fariñas is hopeful that the river control structure will be the answer to frequent flooding problems in three villages north of the Laoag River here.

“This project is not only a solution to our flooding problems. It can also serve as another tourist attraction similar to the Baywalk (along Roxas Boulevard in Manila), Fariñas said.

Inspired by Manila’s Baywalk attraction, the city government had developed a mini park locally known as the Laoag boulevard along the northern section of the Laoag river dike.

The river control projects, consisting of two packages, involve the construction of five sabo dams in four Ilocos Norte towns worth P850 million and dike construction including river improvement works worth P2.2 billion spanning the towns of Dingras, Solsona, Marcos, Banna, Nueva Era including this city.

The dike system will span a total of 87 kilometers covering five towns and this city.

The DPWH has tapped Japanese contractors, Toyo Construction Corp. and Hanjin Heavy Industries Construction Corp. to build the projects.
Engr. Glen Reyes, of the DPWH flood control and sabo dam project, said floodwaters coming from the Laoag River spill over to low-lying areas on opposite sections of the river and, in the process, submerging houses, farmlands including San Nicolas town’s business area.

“There are no more gaps in those areas because we have sealed the dike. Instead, of spilling over to the communities, floodwaters will flow directly to the Laoag river,” he said.

Reyes said two of the five sabo dams are near completion while the rest are 50 percent completed.

The dams are being built in the towns of Carasi, Solsona, Dingras and Nueva Era where major rivers are located.

Reyes said the project is a solution to river sedimentation problems that had caused rives to swell easily resulting to flooding in the province. (PIA)