DPWH seeks creation of anti-flooding master plan in Visayas, Mindanao

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) ordered its regional directors (RDs) and district engineers (DEs) in the Visayas and Mindanao to develop a comprehensive master plan to address flooding and climate change. 

In a memorandum issued by DPWH Senior Undersecretary Rafael C. Yabut, who’s in charge of Visayas and Mindanao operations, RDs and DEs whose jurisdiction includes areas with major river basins and rivers classified under the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) are expected to submit a comprehensive plan for flood control and climate-change mitigation interventions.

The proposed master plan will seek solutions to the overflowing of rivers during rainy days by following the river-basin approach in planning. The master plan will also enable the department to address flooding problem holistically.

The DPWH Unified Project Management Office-Flood Control Management Cluster (UPMO-FCMC) will assist the concerned offices whenever necessary in the formulation of respective master plan.

The country has 18 major river basins, with the Cagayan River Basin as the largest with a drainage area of 27,753 square kilometers.

The DPWH recently started the improvement of that river basin, which is one of its P356-million flood-risk management projects.