Three flood control projects worth P238.63 million were completed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) along the waterways in Hermosa, Bataan to shield the residential areas and farmlands from the threat of water-related hazards during typhoons and heavy rains of long duration.

DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, citing the report of DPWH Regional Office 3 Director Roseller A. Tolentino, stated that the DPWH Bataan First District Engineering Office (DEO) built the three three flood control projects along the sections of Colo River and Hermosa River as the affected residents of the flood-prone areas for years had longed for the construction of protective structures in their community.

Bonoan noted that the DPWH Bataan First DEO completed a P97.98-million project which involved the construction of a 702.11-lineal-meter slope protection structure and the 709.62-linear-meter desilting works along the section of Colo River in Barangay Layac.

The Barangay Layac River Wall is connected to Colo River’s existing flood control system, which now has a total length of about 1.12 linear kilometers built by DPWH over the recent years to provide nearby communities with improved flood defense.

“Also completed in the amount of P91.66 million along the Colo River section in Barangay Mabiga is a 675-linear-meter revetment barrier with steel sheet pile foundation to prevent any runoff water from entering surrounding farmlands and residential areas,’’ the DPWH said.

Bonoan noted that the DPWH Bataan First DEO also finished another flood control structure built at a cost of P48.99 million along the Barangay San Pedro section of Hermosa River.

The concrete slope protection has a total length of 430.46 lineal meters, height of five meters, and “two berm layers’’ that now prevents bank erosion and flooding in the surrounding agricultural communities during extreme unfavorable weather conditions.