DPWH taps Japan's gov't agency to replicate success in river management, flood control in PH
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has forced alliance with a Japanese government agency in improving in large-scale retarding basins and dam engineering to ease the country’s long-time woes on flood control and water resources.
Ramon A. Arriola III, project director of the DPWH Unified Project Management Office-Flood Control Management Cluster (UPMO-FCMC), said the focus of the agreement with Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Tourism (MLIT) is to replicate the latter’s success in river management and flood control strategies in the Philippines.
Arriola said Japan is the primary source of dam upgrading technology since it remains at the forefront of construction and technical innovation with innovative technology and world-class machinery.
Despite years of greater rainfall, Japan's integrated river management system, which makes heavy use of flood storage structures, has led to a severe reduction in flooding in the country.
Arriola stated that the Philippines may implement similar policies, particularly about retarding basins.
"Although the use of retarding basins for flood control is relatively new, several similar projects are being considered for implementation to address flooding in various areas", he said.
Arriola and MLIT Parliamentary Vice Minister Takeshita Koyari led the technical cooperation forum on Thursday, Nov. 23, with around 100 representatives from the DPWH UPMO-FCMC and Regional Offices, and delegates from leading Japanese construction firms.
Koyari led the delegation of Japanese ministries and vowed to improve cooperation, business partnerships, and capacity development of the Philippines and the Japanese government. (Trixee Rosel)