Over 4,700 flood control projects completed as PH braces for rainy season - TF El Niño

There are already over 4,000 flood control projects that were recently completed as the country prepares for the rainy season.

“Actually, since the start of the year pa naman 'no dahil same naman 'yung Task Force El Niño tsaka La Niña, ongoing na 'yung flood control project. So meron nang nakumpleto na 4,712 control projects ng DPWH, meron pang existing na 4,100 na kinukumpleto,” Task Force El Niño spokesperson Asec. Joey Villarama told Balitanghali.

(Actually, since the start of the year, because Task Force El Niño and La Niña are the same, there are ongoing flood control projects. There were 4,712 flood control projects by the DPWH that were already completed, and works on 4,100 others are still ongoing. ) 

State weather bureau PAGASA on Wednesday declared the start of the rainy season in the country after months of extreme hot weather.

But state meteorologists noted that there may be breaks in rainfall that extend over a few days or weeks.

Task Force El Niño added that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has already started clearing waterways and flood gates to mitigate flooding.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier ordered the integration of all the country's flood control management projects under the DPWH. 

Moreover, the task force said that the recent onslaught of Typhoon Aghon served as a “test case” for the government in managing the rainy weather.

“So meron po tayong kinukuhang pointers or lessons learned from the experience of Typhoon Aghon para po talaga mapaigting ang ating paghahanda sa La Niña. So nandyan po 'yung pag-iimbak ng mga pagkain at saka 'yung paghahanda nong food and non-food services, saka 'yung supplies, evacuation centers, at nabanggit ko na nga 'yung mga flood control projects na ongoing,” said Villarama.

(So we are taking note of some pointers or lessons learned from the experience of Typhoon Aghon, so we can better prepare for La Niña. So there’s the storing of food, preparing food and non-food services, evacuation centers, and the ongoing flood control projects that I have already mentioned.)—Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News