DPWH, ADB to manage flood risk in river basins

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), in partnership with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), is preparing a comprehensive flood risk management master plan for three major river basins in the country.

The master plans are for the Mag-Asawang Tubig and neighboring basins in the provinces of Oriental and Occidental Mindoro; the Agno River that originates in the central mountain range of Cordillera with its river system and tributaries extending to Benguet, Mountain Province, and Ifugao, Pangasinan, Nueva Vizcaya and partly Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga and Zambales; and the Cadac-an River Basin in Leyte, DPWH Senior Undersecretary Emil Sadain said yesterday.

“The master plans being prepared will not only provide a strategic and long-term approach to flood risk management but also have to be integrated with other sectors to conserve and utilize water beneficially for irrigation, water supply and power,” Sadain said.

He added that the master plan will lay the groundwork for future flood control infrastructure investments, ensuring that these projects are cost-effective and systematically planned in enhancing disaster resilience and improving water management.

Among the areas being studied is the Agno River Basin, which presents significant flood risks for low-lying provinces like Pangasinan and Tarlac during heavy rains because of insufficient current flood control structures.

The Mag-Asawang Tubig and neighboring river basins, on the other hand, pose threats to agricultural zones and coastal towns due to heavy siltation of waterways and bank erosion, while Leyte’s Cadac-an river basin remains highly vulnerable to tropical storms and typhoons because of small discharge capacity.

Given the unique geographical, hydrological and environmental conditions, the DPWH has chosen to also further develop independent master plans for each of the country’s 18 major river basins and 421 other principal river tributaries.

These master plans are being updated with the support of ADB, Japan International Cooperation Agency and Export-Import Bank of Korea.

The updates aim to incorporate climate projections, urbanization, land use changes and population growth trends to address emerging challenges effectively.