FLOOD MITIGATION COOPERATION. Officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) meet to discuss the proposed Integrated Flood Resilience and Adaptation Project Phase 2 (InFRA 2) at the DPWH office in Manila on Wednesday (March 13, 2024). The DPWH on Thursday said the ADB-financed InFRA 2 aims to reduce the flood risks along three major river basins in the country --the Apayao-Abulug River Basin in Apayao and Cagayan; Jalaur River Basin in Iloilo; and Buayan-Malungon River Basin in Sarangani, South Cotabato, Davao del Sur and General Santos City. (Photo courtesy of DPWH)
MANILA – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) kicked off discussions on the proposed Integrated Flood Resilience and Adaptation Project Phase 2 (InFRA 2), which aims to improve flood risk management along three major river basins in the country.
The meeting held Wednesday between DPWH Undersecretary Emil Sadain and ADB Principal Water Resources Specialist and Mission Leader Eric Quincieu is part of the five-day consultation mission for the new major river basin projects, the DPWH said in a news release on Thursday.
The two officials initially discussed the projects' features and financing, issues on land acquisition and resettlement, maximizing the water resources management features of the projects to include off-stream storage and circular use of water, scope of works, the possibility of co-financing and opportunities for climate concessional financing.
“Everyone’s contribution today will aid in the ADB Consultation Mission Team’s site visits and discussions with local authorities in the coming days. These are vital steps in the conduct of (a) detailed engineering design stage for InFRA 2 which will improve the weather resilience in flood-prone areas,” Sadain said.
Sadain added the ADB-financed InFRA 2 aims to reduce the flood risks along Apayao-Abulug River Basin in Apayao and Cagayan; Jalaur River Basin in Iloilo; and Buayan-Malungon River Basin in Sarangani, South Cotabato, Davao del Sur and General Santos City, through structural and non-structural measures.
The project covers flood risk management planning, rehabilitating and constructing flood protection infrastructure like dikes, creek widening, sluice gates, and pumping station; raising community awareness, and preparing and implementing disaster risk reduction and management plans to reduce different group’s vulnerabilities.
“We have been very successful with the development of InFRA 1 projects –the Abra River Basin and the Ranao or Agus and Tagum-Libuganon River Basins– which are now under various stages of design. Hopefully, this will be replicated in the implementation of InFRA 2,” he said.
Also present during the meeting were officials and representatives from concerned DPWH offices, the National Economic and Development Authority, National Irrigation Administration and the departments of Finance (DOF), Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Interior and Local Government (DILG). (PNA)
