The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) recently completed a flood control project to protect the surrounding areas of the San Pedro River basin in Barangay San Pedro, Maddela, Quirino.
Citing a report from DPWH Quirino District Engineer Arnold A. Sabug, DPWH Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan said that the completed San Pedro Flood Control Project involves the installation of a 2 by 2 base/footing and a 340-lineal meter metallic-coated gabion-type river wall, connecting seamlessly with the existing 262-meter river wall completed in 2022.
The San Pedro River basin, a tributary of the Cagayan River, has long been susceptible to inundation during the rainy season, causing distress to the residents, particularly those in the 18 landlocked barangays in the northeastern part of Maddela.
“The flood control project along Cagayan River now safeguards the communities within Barangay San Pedro, and approximately 20 hectares of agricultural land, which are frequently submerged during floods, ensuring the continuity and productivity of farming activities,” said District Engineer Sabug.
The mitigation project extends to 10 hectares of adjacent farmland, vital for maintaining Maddela’s status as a key corn-crop producer in the Quirino province.
Funded under the 2023 General Appropriations Act (GAA), the new flood control structure was completed in the amount of P48.5 million. (ANTONIO)
