Protective structures built along flood-prone areas in NegOcc city

Residents along Minulu-an River in Talisay City, Negros Occidental Occidental will no longer be alarmed by rising water levels when heavy rains occur after the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) completed the construction of flood protection structures on both sides of the river.

Citing reports from OIC-District Engineer Dene B. Baldonado Jr. of Negros Occidental 1^st District Engineering Office, DPWH-6 Regional Director Nerie D. Bueno said the structure aims to minimize the possible effects of flooding to people and their properties.

“This flood control structure will safeguard the lives, properties and livelihood of the people living along the river from being damaged when the water level rises, hence making them at ease even if heavy rains occur,” Engr. Bueno said.

“Other than the protection of lives and livelihood of the people, this project will ensure that possible damage to our infrastructures is avoided since Minulu-an River runs along Bacolod Negros Occidental Economic Highway (BANOCEH).”

BANOCEH is a significant infrastructure undertaken by DPWH which is expected to decongest traffic along major roads in the province and shorten travel time from the southern to the northern part of Negros Occidental.

Meanwhile, OIC-DE Dene B. Baldonado, Jr. said that the river is one of the major water channels from the Talisay-Silay basin that brings more danger as flooding usually occurs in the area.

Hence, the construction of the flood control structure will mitigate the impact of flood water from rushing toward houses and agricultural areas.

“While Minulu-an River contributes much to agricultural and economic activities of the locality, the sudden rise of water level due to heavy rain may cause danger to the nearby communities, which was observed in previous incidents where flooding affected hundreds of families. Hence, with this structure, we hope that what happened in the past will no longer be experienced now and in the future,” DE Baldonado said. (DPWH-6)