The Department of Public Works and Highways started the construction of the Korean-funded P4.7-billion Integrated Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation project that would reduce flooding in low-lying towns of Pampanga.
Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said the project included the construction of three new bridges and five footbridges, excavation and dredging of Pampanga River and construction of eight floodgates and improvement of drainage system.
The mega project, funded by the loan agreement between the Government of the Philippines and the Government of Korea through the Korea EXIM Bank, will reduce if not alleviate perennial flooding in the low land municipalities of Pampanga.
The groundbreaking of the project was attended by House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Korean Ambassador to the Philippines Han Dong-Man, Pampanga Gov. Lilia Pineda, and Korean Export-Import Bank Country Director Sungho Jang.
Villar said IDRR-CCA measure in low-lying areas of Pampanga Bay was the realization of DPWH target outputs to build disaster-resilient structures in calamity-prone area.
The project will benefit the flood-prone municipalities of Macabebe, Masantol, Minalin, Sto. Tomas, and Apalit which are low-lying places.
“These areas are usually under water during heavy rains and the overflowing of Pampanga river because the river it could not contain the volume of waters in the highlands that flow down the Pampanga River Basin,” Villar said.