Two flood control structures have been completed in Nueva Ecija to protect residents along the Peñaranda River, especially in the towns of General Tinio and San Leonardo.
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Sec. Manuel M. Bonoan said the projects would benefit residents of Barangay Rio Chico in General Tinio and Barangay San Roque in San Leonard who have been experiencing flooding over the years.
The newly-built structures, he said, have a total length of 237.6 lineal meters and were built with P38.8 million funding sourced from the General Appropriations Act (GAA) of 2022.
"These are important projects for the local residents in the areas because both the towns rely on farming rice, corn, and other vegetable produce," said Bonoan.
"The security brought by the structures greatly benefits local farmers by preventing low yield of crops due to soil erosion caused by surplus of water from the river, while at the same time ensuring safety of residents from adverse effects of flooding," he added.
DPWH Regional Office 3 (DPWH-RO3) Director Roseller A. Tolentino said the flood control structures are expected to reduce the threat of flooding in low-lying areas caused by the tendency of the river to overflow especially as the typhoon season has already begun.
The project was implemented by DPWH Nueva Ecija 2nd District Engineering Office (DEO) and was completed months ahead of completion dates for the General Tinio flood control structure and the San Leonardo flood control structure.