DAVAO CITY – The Regional Development Council in Central Mindanao and the Mindanao Development Authority are eyeing foreign donors to fund infrastructure projects to mitigate perennial flooding within the Mindanao River Basin area.

RESIDENTS wade through a marshy field that used to be a rice field in Kabacan, Cotabato. (Keith Bacongco)

In a recent Resource Mobilization Forum organized by the Regional Development Council-12 and the National Economic and Development Authority, stakeholders explored solutions to address the financial and technical requirements for the proposed flood control projects.

The stakeholders acknowledged that securing collaborations and commitments among government agencies, Official Development Assistance partners, and the private sector are essential for the successful implementation of the proposed projects.

Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza, Regional Development Council-12 chairman, emphasized the urgency of implementing mitigating projects to address the flooding in the low-lying areas of Region 12.

We must prioritize the establishment of strong infrastructure along our major rivers to safeguard our communities from the hazards of flooding, Mendoza said.

The MindDA acknowledged that the Soccsksargen region is highly vulnerable to severe flooding from the Pulangi and Ala Rivers that slice across the MRB. Region 12 is composed of South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani provinces, and General Santos City.

The region serves as the catch basin of the major river systems that flow from surrounding mountain ranges.

Perennial flooding has devastated thousands of hectares of agricultural land as well as displaced thousands of people over the years.

Among the proposed projects is the P15.497-billion Maridagao River Irrigation System Improvement Project that aims to divert flood water away from the Ligwasan Marsh through the construction of irrigation facilities, solar pumps, and service roads, generating 1,696 hectares of new irrigable land.

Maridagao River cuts across the mountainous areas of Bukidnon, Lanao del Sur, and Cotabato before draining into Ligawasan Marsh.

However, due to limited government resources, Mendoza appealed for funding from the ODAs to help the local governments. "We appeal to our overseas development assistance funding agencies to help us realize our aspiration of becoming a progressive, inclusive, and resilient region," said the governor.

Several towns in Cotabato have been experiencing perennial flooding due to overflowing of the Pulangi River.

The most recent was last July that affected thousands of residents as well as the neighboring province of Maguindanao del Sur. The flooding was also blamed on the volume of water released from the National Power Corp. (Napocor) that caught the local government units unprepared.

Mendoza chided Napocor for not coordinating with local government units prior to releasing dam water from the Pulangi IV Hydroelectric Power Plant in Maramag, Bukidnon last July 12.

Olie Dagala, MinDA Director for the Investment Promotions and Public Affairs Office (IPPAO), underscored the importance of collaboration between government and private organizations to achieve the shared goal of completing flood mitigation programs.

"At MinDA, we remain committed to partnering with and supporting the Mindanao River Basin. We are dedicated to sustaining the river basin organizations, demonstrating that collaboration leads to better results," Dagala said.

Among the collaborations being explored by MinDA was the transect walk along the major MRB river systems.

The transect walk aims to enhance understanding of the landscape approach, assess environmental conditions, and identify high-risk areas and disaster mitigation needs.

The European Union Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid recently co-organized a “transect walk” along the upstream areas of the Mindanao River Basin to better understand its landscape and communities, identify high-risk areas and gaps in early warning systems, and explore opportunities for improved disaster preparedness.

Among the initial areas covered by the transect walk was the Pulangi Hydroelectric Powerplant and Barangay San Vicente in Dangcagan, Bukidnon.

It also seeks to explore opportunities for stakeholder collaboration to address risks and improve disaster preparedness