Flood control project Christmas ‘08 gift for city

By Jeehan V. Fernandez

Tired of perennial flooding in Iloilo City?

Wait till 2009 for a “flood-free” metropolis and neighboring town of Pavia.

The P4-billion Iloilo Flood Control Project (IFCP) is labeled as “Christmas 2008 Gift for Iloilo” in yesterday’s Metro Iloilo-Guimaras Economic Development Council (MIGEDC) Leaders’ Summit at Sarabia Manor Hotel and Convention Center.

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH-6) project coordinator Engr. Al Fruto explained the anti-flood project would still be “unwrapped Christmas gift 2008” as it would be completed and operational first quarter of 2009.

Fruto noted that IFCP construction works achieved 40 percent completion even as Package 1 posted 33 percent accomplishment while Package 2 reached 66 percent accomplishment by Korean firm Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Co. and China International Water and Electric Corp., respectively.

He said Package 1 costing an initial P1.9-billion hosts the completion of three bridges in barangays Anilao and Pagsanga-an in Pavia and Tacas in Jaro district; excavation of five-kilometer floodway; and slope protection works at barangays Aganan, Pavia and Ticud in La Paz district.

Package 2 costing an initial P507-million includes 22-kilometer river improvements; the almost-finished Carpenter Bridge connecting Molo and Mandurriao districts; and five box culverts at Ingore Creek in La Paz, Fruto revealed.

“There are positive accomplishments that will solve the problem based on the recent flooding incidents in the city,” Fruto told reporters.

Earlier, Mayor Jerry Treñas announced that IFCP’s Stage 1 is on track for completion on December next year after construction works started since October last year.

“The flood control project is on time for its completion on December 2008,” said Treñas.

He added that another P4.2 billion will be needed for IFCP’s Stage 2.

“I push for the implementation of Stage 2 but a JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) representative said it would take three-year evaluation and 1-year approval. I won’t be the mayor anymore,” Treñas said.

IFCP is financed through a loan provided by Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).

A five-kilometer 100-meter wide floodway which looks like a “new river” in Tacas, Jaro district will be installed to divert the huge volume of floodwater flowing down the city from Tigum and Aganan rivers in Pavia.

Treñas added that Stage 2 will cover the improvements of Jaro River Mouth and Dungon Creek, among others.

The mayor said the project is the fruit of local officials’ tireless efforts in wooing the President to allocate counterpart funds to realize the implementation.

“There had been reports that the project faced cancellation because there was no counterpart budget from the national government. But we had succeeded the President’s nod to support the project,” Treñas stressed.

He added that city officials, barangay captains, urban poor and even local business sectors had petitioned to President Gloria Arroyo for the IFCP to push through.

“The President said that she owed a lot to the Ilonggos because of big votes she gained here during the 2004 elections, reason why she ensured the project’s funding,” said Treñas.

IFCP became the biggest development plan for the city.

Treñas said some 3,000 projected-affected families who are mostly squatters are provided with a 32-hecatre relocation site to be furnished with needed facilities and services like road, drainage system, lighting, school, mini-market and bridge in Brgy. San Isidro, Jaro.

“These are good projects that will contribute to local development,” he enthused.