MAASIN CITY (PIA) -- The construction of a flood control project of the Department of Public Works and Highways – Southern Leyte District Engineering Office (DPWH-SLDEO) has finally solved the perennial worry of residents in an interior, upland barangay every time it rains.
“This flood control project offers protection to lives and properties. Ma relax na mo og naay bagyo (You will now feel relaxed even if there is a storm),” said District Engr. Manolo Rojas during the inauguration of the project on April 12, at Barangay Bato I gym.
The completed flood control project in Barangay Bato I that spanned another Barangay, Bato II (Photo: PIA Southern Leyte)
Rojas disclosed that the project had a total cost of P125 million since its construction began in February 2022 until its completion in January this year, stretching 1.5 kilometers of the river, which zigzagged its way as it passed through Barangay Bato 1.
Provincial and city officials attended the inauguration rites, done through a ceremonial ribbon cutting and unveiling of the project at the barangay gym.
Officials from the provincial and city LGU, DPWH personnel, mayors and barangay chairpersons pose for posterity during the cutting of ribbon signifying inauguration of the completed flood control project. (Photo: PIA Southern Leyte)
Also among those present included First District Rep. Luz Mercado, former DPWH Secretary Roger Mercado, mayors in the province’s first district, and barangays chairpersons in the city.
Former DPWH Secretary Roger Mercado pointed to a portion of the winding flood control structure right after the unveiling of the tarpaulin. (Photo: PIA Southern Leyte)
Illuminada Garde, Barangay Bato I chairperson, said she can now sleep with the finished flood control project in place, even as she hinted that it be continued downstream to cover more areas.
In a follow-up interview, Garde narrated that someone was drowned and even a house was swept away when a flash flood rushed down the winding river some years back, during typhoon “Basyang” (international name: Malakas).
She hoped such incidents would no longer recur with the flood control project now in place upstream, benefiting the neighboring BarangayBato II.
Ramonito Pilla, a barber and Bato I resident, said the river becomes wild during rainy days and that the newly completed flood control could tame its flow the next time heavy rains arrive.
“Didto man mi nagpuyo sa ibabaw, layo ra mi sa suba, apan makita namo ang iyang kahimtang og magbaha na, moawas gani sa una, apan dili na karon kay habog na man ang dike,” Ramonito said.
(We live up there, not far from the river, but we could see its condition and when it would flood, it used to overflow before, but not anymore because the dike has been raised.") (MMP, PIA Southern Leyte)
