President Marcos has stressed that flood control structures can be effective if they are constructed properly.

Marcos found himself making the statement when he led the inauguration of the Union Water Impounding Dam in Barangay Union, Claveria, Cagayan on Tuesday, Oct. 14, which, he said, actually serves as a flood-control system.

"Ito po ay binuksan – binubuksan po natin – ito ay para naman maipakita natin, itong project po na ito, nagsimula ito sa termino ko, natapos din sa termino ko (We are opening this to show that this project started during my term and was also completed during my term)," Marcos said during a dialogue with farmers.

"Ibig sabihin, napatunayan natin na maaaring gumawa ng magandang flood control na effective (This means we have proven that it is possible to build a good and effective flood control system),”Marcos added.

"Basta’t maayos ang pagpagawa. Maayos ang disenyo. Maayos ang implementasyon, wala tayong makikitang problema (As long as it was built properly. The design is good. The implementation is sound, we won't encounter any problems)," Marcos stressed.

The President noted that the project was completed within only 14 months of construction.

He emphasized that although the project was labeled as dam, it actually works as a flood-control structure.

He explained that the structure is technically a weir—a low dam designed to regulate river flow – which allows water to be managed during heavy rains, helping to prevent flooding in vulnerable downstream communities.

"14 months later, ito na, mayroon na tayo itong—itong flood control talaga ito. Ang nakalagay diyan dam pero ang tawag diyan weir, hindi hinaharang yung tubig kung hindi kinokontrol lamang yung takbo (But 14 months later, here it is — this is truly a flood control project. What’s written there is ‘dam,’ but what it’s actually called is a weir. It doesn’t block the water; it only controls its flow)," he said.

"Kaya’t kahit malakas ang ulan, kahit mabilis ang tubig sa ilog ay  makokontrol natin, hindi magbabaha sa baba (That’s why even when the rain is heavy and the river current is strong, we can still manage it and prevent flooding downstream)," he added.

The Union Dam not only protects rice fields from flooding, but also provides year-round irrigation to support crop yields.

The project includes a sluice gate system, which diverts water to irrigate up to 3,600 hectares of farmland, benefitting more than 1,000 farmers across seven barangays, according to the President.

The Union Dam is a joint initiative between the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), and forms part of a broader convergence strategy to address flood control, irrigation, and rural development.

Marcos also highlighted the dam’s potential to become a tourist destination, noting that the area has begun attracting locals for recreation and water activities.