DPWH sets aside P1.1B for five proposed dams in Cebu

Local

THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is planning to build five water impounding structures in Cebu next year as part of a broader infrastructure program aimed at reducing flood risks following the devastation caused by Typhoon Tino.

DPWH Secretary Giovanni “Banoy” Lopez announced that around P1.1 billion has been allocated for the five proposed dams under the national government's approximately P17-billion infrastructure budget for Cebu in 2027.

The proposed structures will be located in Cotcot, where two dams are planned, as well as in Mananga, Butuanon and Bulacao, with one structure in each area.

Lopez said the projects are expected to provide a longer-term approach to flood management, particularly with the planned construction of the facilities in elevated areas to help regulate water flow.

“We will start the procurement and hopefully the civil works, the construction of it, we will also start,” Lopez said, expressing hope that implementation could begin next year.

The DPWH chief made the announcement during an inspection of ongoing flood mitigation works along the Mananga River in Talisay City, where he was briefed by regional officials and district engineers on the construction of gabion structures.

He said the current intervention involves widening the river channel from sections measuring about 10 to 14 meters to a target width of approximately 80 meters.

Lopez stressed that flood control infrastructure must provide sufficient space for water to flow, pointing out that river channels should be wide enough to accommodate the volume of water passing through them.

He also underscored the importance of keeping waterways free from encroachments, commending Mayor Gerald Anthony “Samsam” Gullas for implementing a no-build zone along the river.

“This cannot be done by the national government alone. The local government must help,” he said, emphasizing that local government participation is necessary to sustain flood mitigation efforts.

The ongoing Mananga project is about 90 percent complete in its current phase, according to Lopez. Work is also underway on a canal designed to channel water directly into the river.

He said the DPWH regional and district engineering offices would continue working on the remaining components until the structures are completed.

Lopez said his visit to Cebu was prompted by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s directive to strengthen infrastructure safeguards and prevent a recurrence of the flooding experienced during Typhoon Tino.(MyTVCebu)