By Mike Crismundo
BUTUAN CITY – The problem on floods plaguing the residents and business community in this city is expected to become a thing of the past as its flood system project was reported to already be 90 percent complete.
This was disclosed by Regional Director Engr. Pol M. Delos Santos of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), saying further that the construction of the flood system was already in its “finishing touches”.
“Our contractors, ground engineers and technical men are already on the ground in 24/7 in an effort to hit its target timeline of completion and we are redoubling our effort as weather condition is good,” stressed the region’s top DPWH official, during an exclusive interview with The Manila Bulletin on Friday.
The DPWH Caraga Region 13, through the Regional Project Management Office (RPMO), has constructed the Lower Agusan Development Project (LADP) Flood Control Component (FCC) Stage I, Phase I and II, Urban Drainage System Construction of Relief Pumping Station at Collector Drain (CD) 1 and 2.
“The CD 1 was already completed, while the CD 2 is (undergoing) round-the-clock ground works,” Director Delos Santos pointed out.
The construction of the relief pumping stations was designed to discharge a combined (CD 1 and 2) 70 cubic meter per minute of flood water impounded along the commercial districts of Butuan City that will be released into the Agusan River in the event that level of water rises due to continuous rain and other weather disturbances.
For decades, flooding has been a looming danger in the highly urbanized city of Butuan which is geographically situated below sea level where agriculture, property and even lives are at constant risk of being under water or swept away gravely in the recent years due to the effects of climate change.
Construction of CD 1 and 2 began on June 29, 2017 with a total cost close to P100 million.