DPWH targets Jan-Feb completion of Calumpit flood control works

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) expects to complete by January or February next year the rehabilitation and construction of flood control structures in Calumpit, Bulacan, as the government moves to address recurring flooding in the municipality.

DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said on Saturday that work on a nearly 1.8-kilometer flood control project covering damaged structures and gaps in existing defenses was 75 percent complete, ahead of its original March completion target.

The project was redesigned to strengthen the flood defenses, including raising the structures and installing geotextile material to prevent water from penetrating the dike, the agency said.

Dizon, who visited the area late this week, said the improvements were intended to correct deficiencies in previously constructed flood control structures, which he described as too low and lacking adequate reinforcement.

Despite the additional engineering measures and higher construction costs, the new structures amounted to nearly half as much per linear meter, he said.

The rehabilitation covers areas repeatedly affected by flooding, particularly the villages of Bulusan, Calizon and Frances, where residents have experienced recurring problems during high tides and heavy rains.

Dizon said the old flood defenses were almost level with the river’s high-water mark, allowing water to enter nearby communities. The new structures were raised more than 1.5 meters above the highest historical river level, providing a greater buffer against rising water.

He said the project was being carried out under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to address flooding in Calumpit, which he had repeatedly visited amid the controversy over allegedly anomalous flood control projects.

Dizon said the government was focused on fixing the flooding problem while pursuing accountability for those responsible for defective or overpriced projects.

The DPWH chief said the municipality’s master plan called for 14 permanent pumping stations, with the first three planned for Bulusan, Frances and Calizon.

He said the government was coordinating with the local government and the DPWH district engineering office on the initial deployment of mobile pumps, which could begin as soon as arrangements were completed.

Dizon cited similar interventions in other flood-prone areas, including Hagonoy, Bulacan, where pumping stations help remove water from communities during heavy rains.

The secretary also stressed the need to widen the river in certain areas rather than constrict its natural course, saying waterways must be given sufficient space to accommodate rising water.

On the alleged irregularities involving previous flood control projects, Dizon said the recovery of government funds and the prosecution of those responsible were matters for the appropriate agencies, including the Office of the Ombudsman, the Office of the Solicitor General and the Department of Justice.

He said the DPWH’s immediate priority was to repair the flood defenses and address the recurring flooding in the Bulacan town.

Calumpit Mayor Agnes De Leon welcomed the rehabilitation, thanking Dizon and the president for monitoring the projects until their completion.

De Leon stressed that the closer coordination between the DPWH and the local government would help ensure that the completed structures would benefit residents.