Marcos: Flood control projects work if implemented properly

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. said Tuesday that some flood control projects actually work if implemented properly.

Marcos said this during the inauguration of the Union Water Impounding Dam in Barangays Union and Cadcadir in Claveria, Cagayan, a project that began during his term.

''Ibig sabihin, napatunayan natin na maaaring gumawa ng magandang flood control na effective basta't maayos ang paggawa, maayos ang disenyo, maayos ang implementasyon. Wala tayong makikitang problema,'' Marcos told local farmers in the province.

(This means that we have proven that there are effective flood control projects, especially if the design and the implementation are good. We see no problem with that.)

Marcos first denounced the shamelessness of corrupt government officials and contractors in his State of the Nation Address in July, stating that he personally found out that some flood control projects were poorly done or non-existent in the first place.

In Bulacan province alone, Marcos, during one of his inspections, said he was very angry with the anomalous and ghost flood control projects.

Through an executive order that he signed, an Independent Commission for Infrastructure was created to look into the infrastructure projects, including the flood control projects in the last ten years.

The President ensured that his allies would not be spared in the probe of the ICI into anomalous and ghost flood control projects. He also assured the public that the ICI would be very independent from other investigations.

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) collaborated with the Department of Public Works and Highways under the convergence program called ‘Katubigan’ or Kalsada Tungo sa Patubigan Program, which aims to enhance irrigation service roads and provide additional support to local agriculture.

Among the key projects of this program is the Construction of Small Reservoir Impounding Project’ (SRIP) in Claveria, Cagayan, which seeks to address critical infrastructure needs and environmental challenges.

The project is designed to support more than 1,050 hectares of farmland and the dam is expected to benefit more than 1,000 farmers. 

It includes slope protection, and drainage systems to minimize river siltation and slope erosion and prevent flooding in agricultural areas.

The Union Dam is part of a broader network of water impounding projects in Barangays Tabbugan and Bacsay, which will serve more than 3,000 farmers across Cagayan once completed. — RSJ/KG, GMA Integrated News